Gaddum

22/10/2025

What is a 'sandwich carer'?

Sandwich carers are unpaid family carers supporting multiple generations at once. For example, someone caring for ageing parents while looking after their child with additional needs.

Sandwich carers play a vital role in families and society, yet often go unrecognised and unsupported.

Funded by MAHSC (Manchester Academic Health Science Centre) and Health Innovation Manchester and supported by Gaddum, the findings from recent research have been captured in a graphic zine, which you can view here:https://10gm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sandwich-Carers-digital.pdf

In addition to the need for greater awareness of sandwich carers, we found that sandwich caring poses unique challenges and made the following recommendations:

- Sandwich carers need targeted resources for themselves to help them continue in their work, such as access to carer’s allowance, respite services, and dedicated guidance and advice that understands their position within a complex network of caring relationships.

- Building family resilience and enhancing family support benefits sandwich carers and those they care for.

- The design and delivery of integrated and inclusive social services, health and social care, and employment is of primary importance to sandwich carers and their families.

- Further research is needed to extend the existing limited knowledge base on sandwich carers and build on this pilot study.

You can read the full report here: https://10gm.org.uk/10gms-work/unpaid-caregiving-in-greater-manchesters-sandwich-generation/

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If you are a sandwich carer, or think you might be, find out more & contact us to see how we can support you via the following:

📌 Residents in Salford:

Salford Carers
https://www.gaddum.org.uk/carers/what-are-carers/
0161 834 6069
salford.carers@gaddum.org.uk

📌Residents in Manchester:

Carers Manchester
https://www.carersmanchester.org.uk/
0161 543 8000
contactpoint@carersmanchester.org.uk

16/10/2025

Some lovely feedback from our free Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy session!

Our next 8 week course on Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy starts on Wednesday 28th January, 6pm - 8pm in Manchester, M4 1LE and is completely free to attend.

Throughout the course, you will 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 free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-free-8-week-course-tickets-1753833004729?aff=oddtdtcreator

We look forward to welcoming you! 🧘🏾

14/10/2025

Did you know: it’s a statutory right for carers to be involved in the hospital discharge process.

And yet...research from Carers UK shows that only 14% of unpaid carers are asked about their ability to care as part of the hospital discharge process.

With this in mind...

We’re creating a short film with and for carers in Salford to explore what it’s really like to care for someone during a hospital stay - and how carers must be included in the discharge planning procedure.

By amplifying carers’ voices, we can help improve hospital experiences, reduce readmissions, and prevent carer burnout.

We’re looking for a diverse group of carers to get involved - no filming or editing experience needed!

Apply to join the planning group by 21/10/2025
Share your story for the film by 10/11/2025

To get involved, complete our Expression of Interest form here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=XoJ1QUfAqEy-_yg1H8pgjebhPIdVM49EqrtD95a0NuFUREtXVEE4R1IzMzM5VVc0MUJWSFVHVVlRRS4u&route=shorturl

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14/10/2025

Thank you so much to Jefe who stopped by for a brew and chat ☕️ We talked openly about his experience of mental health working as a barber, and the struggles of losing your business - something that many people will relate to.

We also discussed how important early intervention is when it comes to mental health - this can be as simple as speaking to someone, be it a friend or family member or a colleague - and the importance of signposting anyone who is struggling to the right organisations that can help.

For a list of mental health resources, head to the link in our bio 💙

13/10/2025

Gaddum no longer has a profile on X (formerly Twitter), but you can still find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

To find out more, read our full statement here:

The social media platform X no longer aligns with these values. We have made the decision to delete Gaddum’s X profile, effective immediately.

13/10/2025

POV: Getting caught off guard when the person you’re interviewing asks YOU how you’re doing 😅

It was so good speaking to Solomon about all things mental health, and how important it can be to step back sometimes and spend some time in nature 🌊

10/10/2025

Happy 🧠

Today, and every day, we strive for open conversation around mental health.

We're sharing some beautiful words from Carol, a , who has written about how her adorable Pomeranian dog, Daisy, supports her mental well-being.

As Carol says, Daisy offers 'unconditional love' and 'wonderful company'. They enjoy going for walks in Salford parks, where Daisy's 'unusual, smokey-grey colouring' and 'funny face' draws lots of attention (and new friendships!)

10/10/2025

“How do you look after your own mental health?” 🧠

This we invited the people of Manchester to stop by for a free brew and a chat with our Marketing Lead, Hannah, asking “how are you doing, really?”

We often say “how are you?” as a greeting, rather than making space to listen to how our friends, family and colleagues are *really* doing.

We could be walking, working, or living alongside someone who is struggling and perhaps not even realise they are. It’s so important to hold space for the people around us to open up and be heard.

To kick off the mental health conversation, we asked how people look after their own mental health.

How about you - how do you look after your mental health? Let us know in the comments 💭

09/10/2025

- join us for a FREE Creative Writing & Photography Workshop.

The session will be run by photographer Fiona Robinson and writer Pauline Rowe. Come to one or both, available in person or on Zoom.

📌 In person workshop
Tuesday 14th October
10.30am - 12.30pm
Humphrey Booth Resource Centre, Worsley Road, Swinton, M27 BWW

📌 Online workshop
Friday 24th October
10am - 12pm
Via Zoom

To book, contact Fiona at photoswithfiona@gmail.com | 07985 489 633.

The workshops are part of a project delivered by and funded by

For Carer's Rights Day in November, carers will have the opportunity to share their words and photography from the project with one another and discuss how to collectively share these more widely.

Gaddum will be attending these workshops, so if you have any questions about your caring role, you can chat to a member of our staff.

02/10/2025

We’re got an exciting opportunity for 5 people to become Advisory Panel Members, supporting the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board’s strategic planning and delivery of Adult Community Mental Health Services.

For more information, check out the role description: https://tinyurl.com/4e76vrsx

Please apply asap, by filling in our Expression of Interest Form. https://forms.office.com/e/HH5mWyv2Zs

Any questions, contact: coproduction@gaddum.org.uk

We can’t wait to hear from you!

02/10/2025

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/mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy-free-8-week-course-tickets-1753833004729?aff=oddtdtcreator