Caring Connections
Who we are and what we do?
Caring Connections is a registered charity that has been providing services across the North West since 1992, with its central operations based in Knowsley.
The organisation provides care and support to people in their own homes, helping local residents live independently and maintain their quality of life. Today, Caring Connections supports more than 120 Knowsley residents every day and employs over 70 staff locally. The charity is also one of Knowsley Council’s lead providers of home care services.
How has the grant helped?
Support from the Oliver Lymes Charity has provided vital unrestricted funding to help Caring Connections continue operating through a challenging financial and operational landscape.
The grant has supported a wide range of activities across the organisation, including staff wellbeing, recruitment, training and development, and community initiatives.
Funding has helped Caring Connections recruit and train local staff, including supporting a dedicated recruitment manager and advertising roles through platforms such as Indeed. This has helped the organisation create employment opportunities within the communities it serves and build a workforce committed to supporting local people.
The grant has also contributed towards training and qualifications for staff, including CIPD and Health & Social Care qualifications, as well as training and shadowing for new starters. Funding has also supported the sponsorship of five migrant workers, helping them secure the right to work in the UK and become part of the Caring Connections team.
Staff wellbeing has been another important focus. The grant has helped fund wellbeing activities, employee celebrations and recognition events, including the annual Caring Connections Awards, where staff are celebrated for the difference they make to the people they support.
The funding has also enabled Caring Connections to give back to the wider community. During Christmas, the organisation partnered with Sunshine House Wigan to provide more than 70 Christmas dinners to people experiencing isolation and living alone, while also bringing staff and their families together through Christmas celebrations.
Updates
The grant has also supported the creation of a new Social Value Lead role, with Emma Bailey joining Caring Connections in September 2024. Emma leads on measuring and demonstrating the organisation’s contribution to local communities, producing quarterly and annual social value reports and developing Caring Connections’ social value strategy.
The organisation continues to grow its presence in Knowsley, supporting more than 120 local residents each day and employing over 70 people in the area.
Looking ahead, Caring Connections plans to build on the social impact made possible through the Oliver Lymes Charity’s support, continuing to invest in its staff, strengthen local recruitment and provide high-quality care and support to people across Knowsley.
