The charity ‘Crossroads Caring for Carers’ was launched by the ATV soap opera in 1974…

The Worcestershire branch of the Crossroads Care caring charity has welcomed its latest patron pop-soul singer Tunde, the voice of the Lighthouse Family who had chart hits with tracks including High, Lifted and Ocean Drive. Tunde recently visited the Crossroads Caring for Carers ‘information point’ located at a crossroads in a former phone box in Powick.

Helen Simmons, care manager of the Worcestershire outlet, said of the latest personality joining their charity:

“Tunde and I have discussed some very exciting ways he can get involved with our charity and help us raise awareness of what we do.”

Tunde joins broadcaster and author Suzanne Virdee (ITV News) and actors Clive Mantle (Casualty) and Tony Adams (Crossroads).

The charity originated from the TV soap when it featured a storyline in which motel owner Meg Richardson, played by Noele Gordon, looked after her disabled son, Sandy. When she was invited on a holiday it became clear Sandy would need a carer. No such organisation or NHS service existed. In the show Meg created a fictional Caring for Carers scheme that saw trained nurses giving assistance and respite offerings to carers.

This created such interest among real-life carers that ATV, who produced Crossroads for ITV, donated £10,000 towards a caring-for-carers pilot scheme, which was to become the start of Crossroads Care branches across the country. ITV itself gave over airtime across the 1970s and 80s within its local news programmes and with Public Service Announcement trailers to promote the charity.

More information on Crossroads Caring for Carers at www.crossroadsworcs.org.uk/

News source: ATV Today