Efforts of community campaigner to continue thanks to legacy fund
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The Caroline Thomson Legacy Fund has been created by Connecting Carers thanks to a £10,000 donation from the Caring and Sharing charity shop in Inverness.
Mrs Thomson, who died in a car collision in August 2016, was a driving force behind Caring and Sharing as well as being a former chairwoman of Highland Community Carer Forum (HCCF), the umbrella charity of Connecting Carers which aims to give the region’s carers a better life.
The 63-year-old, who lived at Daviot, was also renowned as an innovative and formidable chairman of NHS Highland from 1997 until 2004.
Donations to establish the fund – which will open to applications on April 1 – came from her funeral, an annual fundraising ball and the Caring and Sharing shop in Church Street.
Set up in consultation with Mrs Thompson’s husband Allan, the fund will enable often unsung heroes to take a short break whether it is doing an activity for a few hours, or a few days’ respite.
“I think it is terrific because Caroline, throughout her life, was a very keen supporter of caring charities,” Mr Thomson said.
“Some carers are terribly young and some are very old. It would be exactly what she would have liked – to have her work continue.
“It is good to see a legacy to support those carers who are struggling and to see her work and ambitions are continuing.”
He recalled his wife had worked closely with Izzie MacDonald, founder of Caring and Sharing, and her team in responding quickly to requests for funding.
“They work as a fantastic team quickly and efficiently, having no red tape and doing what is required,” he said.
Roisin Connolly, manager of the Connecting Carers centre in Dingwall, said the fund had come at a crucial time for the region’s estimated 32,000 upaid carers.
“Having a short break from caring is one way of ensuring the situation doesn’t become a critical crisis,” she said. “While it is very sad that Caroline is no longer here, her legacy will help unpaid carers in Highland to access funding that will either help with personal development or provide a short break to those at risk of burnout from their caring responsibility.”
Izzie MacDonald, of Caring and Sharing, became a close friend of Mrs Thomson after she joined the charity’s board.
“I really miss her,” Ms MacDonald said. “I think she would be delighted that this fund has been set up and the money is going to something she was passionate about.
“She was very caring and a lovely person.”
Simon Cole-Hamilton, a trustee of Caring and Sharing Highland, described the legacy fund as “terrific”.
“It continues her efforts to bring recognition of carers in the community and will also continue to bring some joy and respite to those people who are unsung in the great work they do,” he said.
