Gaddum

08/12/2025

IIn addition to our therapy and carer services, our wider, system-level work aims to challenge structural inequalities and improve the social environment within which local people live their lives.

We do this to make access to equitable health, wealth and self more likely, for more people, more of the time.

By working alongside our partner organisations, and learning from diverse lived experience (the experience of people who directly face the challenges we aim to
address), we continue to advocate for fairness.

Because a fairer, equitable society is a happier, healthier one. Wouldn't you agree? 😊

To find out more, you can read our full 2025 Impact Report here: https://www.gaddum.org.uk/news/2025/11/impact-report-2025/

05/12/2025

A snapshot of Team Gaddum - and what a team we are!

Thank you to everyone - our staff, students, board members and volunteers - for all your hard work.

Together, we're working towards our vision of equitable health, wealth, self and community for those we walk alongside.

PS. Want to join the Gaddum team? We're currently recruiting for an Adult Carers Outreach and Development Worker.

Find out more & apply here: https://www.gaddum.org.uk/work-with-us/

04/12/2025

A snapshot from our 2025 Impact Report: outcomes from our carer services over the past 12 months.

While facts and figures are essential for measuring our impact, it’s the lived-experience stories - the people behind the numbers - that are helping to drive meaningful, systemic change.

Lived experience stories help us understand how and when support is needed, and how we can best deliver services that positively impact carers across Greater Manchester.

Thank you to everyone who shared their lived experience to feature in our report.

And thank you to our communities, partners, board members, staff and commissioners who help us walk alongside and support carers across Greater Manchester. Here's to the next 12 months - and beyond!

Read our full Impact Report here: https://www.gaddum.org.uk/news/2025/11/impact-report-2025/

03/12/2025

A snapshot from our 2025 Impact Report: outcomes from our therapy services from the past 12 months.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who shared their lived experience to feature in our report. These stories are fundamental in driving real, meaningful change across our mental healthcare system.

Over the last 12 months, we’ve influenced policy, shaped new models of care, and strengthened partnerships across the region - all by sharing power and walking alongside the people and communities we support.

Read our full Impact Report here: https://www.gaddum.org.uk/news/2025/11/impact-report-2025/

01/12/2025

Today, on World AIDS Day, we echo the sentiment of our partners at The Brunswick Centre.

Their Untold Stories campaign shines a light on the lived experiences of people affected by HIV by challenging stigma and creating space for understanding.

Find out more below 👇

27/11/2025

2025 - what a year it’s been!

Together with our partners and communities, we’ve:

- influenced health, social care and carer policy,
- shaped and delivered new models of care, and
- strengthened partnerships across Greater Manchester and beyond!

We’re proud to share Gaddum’s 2025 Impact Report, which captures the achievements across our therapy, carers and community-based services over the last twelve months.

Co-production sits at the heart of the impact we’ve achieved; we walk alongside and share power with people with lived experience to ensure our work has maximum reach, relevance and impact.

Thank you to our partners, communities and amazing Gaddum colleagues for your continued support and dedication.

We’re looking forward to building on our collective efforts in 2026, working towards our vision of equitable health, wealth and self for every individual and community we walk alongside.

Read our full impact report here: https://www.gaddum.org.uk/news/2025/11/impact-report-2025/

26/11/2025

We're delighted to partner with Kentown Support to deliver specialist therapeutic support for families of children with life-limiting conditions across Greater Manchester.

This partnership forms part of the Kentown Model – a new, integrated approach to children’s palliative and end-of-life care that brings together nursing, practical and emotional support to ensure families receive compassionate and coordinated care where and when they need it.

As part of this model, Gaddum is delivering the therapeutic strand, offering:

- Open-ended counselling for parents and carers
- Creative and play-based therapy for children and siblings
- Bespoke bereavement support for families following the loss of a child

Our person-centred therapy is designed to ensure parents and caregivers are fully supported during one of the most challenging times of their lives.

Find out more about our partnership with Kentown Support and our palliative end-of-life therapy service here: https://www.gaddum.org.uk/therapy/palliative-and-end-of-life-therapy-service/

25/11/2025

Start your 2026 the right way with our free 8 week course on Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy.

⏰ When: Starting Weds 28th January 2026, 6pm - 8pm
📍 Where: Manchester, M4 1LE

Learn how to manage stress and improve your mental well-being through mindfulness. The course will be run by an experienced therapist and qualified Mindfulness teacher, and there will be approximately 10-15 participants in total.

A fantastic opportunity to enhance your mental health with a supportive group.

💙 What is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)?

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) combines elements of mindfulness practice and cognitive behavioral therapy to help develop greater awareness and acceptance of thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

MBCT is particularly good at preventing relapse of episodes of low mood/depression, for those of us who are currently well or have received prior therapy.

MBCT is more recently recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for people with mild-moderate and recurrent depression, and can also be very helpful for people who want to manage stress more effectively.

Please note:

- Your place on the course will only be confirmed once you have completed an initial telephone appointment with a Therapist. To arrange a telephone appointment, please sign up by getting a ticket.

- You must be a resident or have a registered GP within the Manchester City Council area to register. You must be 18+.

Book your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1753833004729?aff=oddtdtcreator

20/11/2025

Calling all Salford Carers! 📢

We’re especially keen to hear from:

Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Carers
LGBTQ+ Carers
Male Carers

…for a short film on hospital discharge. If the person you look after (family member, partner, friend, neighbour) was admitted to a Salford hospital in the last 5 years, we’d love to hear from you about your experience.👇

If you would like to get involved, fill out our expression of interest form ASAP: https://forms.office.com/e/7A4jwuSsJC

Or, for a friendly chat with our Carers Involvement Worker, contact jemma.houghton@gaddum.org.uk | 0161 834 6069 (4009)

Filming will take place in December 2025. Participants will receive a voucher for their filmed testimony.

This project is part of the Accelerating Reform Fund, a national initiative funded by the Department for Health and Social Care.

20/11/2025

Thank you to the Princess of Wales, who recently paid tribute to the "quiet, often invisible work of caring"

The BBC commented, "[Catherine's] speech, confidently delivered, reflected her deeply-held, personal message about the need for a greater emphasis on kindness and recognising that "love is the first and most essential bond".

👏🏾

20/11/2025

Today is Carers Rights Day!

This year's theme is 'Know Your Rights, Use Your Rights' 📢

Knowing your rights as a carer empowers you to understand what you’re entitled to and gives you the confidence to ask for support or challenge situations where those rights aren’t respected - whether at work, in education, within health or social care, or at home.

Find out more about each of your rights as a carer here: https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/our-campaigns/carers-rights-day/

20/11/2025

We are saddened to hear of the death of Dave Williams, Chief Officer of Manchester Carers-Forum

We want to express our sincere condolences to Dave's family, friends and colleagues at this sad time.

Statement from Manchester Carers Forum

It is with deep sorrow and sadness that we have to announce the death of our Chief Officer Dave Williams on 19th November 2025.

Dave was a wonderful, kind, caring, witty and inspirational man. He worked tirelessly on behalf of carers in our city and built a team and organisation with the values he cherished of kindness and generosity.

We will honour him by continuing the work of Manchester Carers Forum, an organisation he so loved.

If you wish to send messages to Dave’s family, you can do so through the following contacts.

By email to Anne Connolly
anne@manchestercarersforum.org.uk

By post
c/o Anne Connolly
The Shaw Centre
C/O Redbank House
4 Saint Chad's Street
Cheetham Hill
M8 8QA

From Sara Williamson
Chair of Manchester Carers Forum