About Us

The Medway 5 Carers Group was suggested by a Clinical Practise Nurse.  There was an increasing number of families not coping with their loved ones or friends, diagnosed with a mental health condition. The idea was to startup a meeting group to share their experiences. 

The Medway 5 Carers group was formed and a number of families enjoyed the benefit of meeting others for informal round the table discussions, as the group started to make a beneficial headway it became obvious that it needed to get recognised by the Mental Health Services in the five Medway areas, namely Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, and Rainham. 

The group’s popularity grew and required funding beyond the group’s voluntary contributions which at the time as supported by the Medway Council, but this was withdrawn as the Council required the group to become a Business Model. 

The members at the time were unable to further the group’s activities due to their respective family member commitments, as the Business Model the Council required involved setting up a constitution, including policies, procedures and a health and safety policy. 

It became evident for the group to continue, further finances were needed other than group membership fees.

The group’s members decided to form a committee and produced a constitution relating to its operations providing three committee members (Chairman, Vice Chairman and Financial Secretary). This formed the basis of our constitution allowing us to apply for funding as a bona fide organisation with a Bank Account in the name of Medway 5 Carers Group.