New Team Member for WCYC

Melanie Kendall Project Officer at WCYC

13 January 2025

Welcoming Melanie Kendall as the New Project Officer for We Care You Care (WCYC)

We are delighted to announce that Melanie Kendall has joined the We Care You Care (WCYC) team as our new Project Officer working for MVDA. Melanie will work closely with Kelly Hodgson, Project Lead, to expand the reach of the initiative in raising awareness of unpaid care across the South Tees area. 

Melanie has many years’ experiences in marketing and communications and throughout her career has worked with a diverse range of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector, developing and implementing successful marketing and communications campaigns. 

“I am delighted to welcome Melanie to the team and look forward to her input as we continue to build on the progress made so far, thanks to the support of our partners, carers, and stakeholders,” says Kelly. “The additional resource within the project will allow us to reach more people and further develop the WCYC website - a vital resource for anyone looking for information, resources and connections to local services across Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland for unpaid carers. Melanie has hit the ground running and not only brings a range of invaluable skills, expertise and knowledge of communications and marketing but also a fresh perspective which will support our development and continuous improvement plans.” 

As well as working alongside our voluntary and community partners, Melanie will be involved in building links with the business community to raise awareness of the challenges carers face in the workplace, and ways in which they can be better supported.

“I am really excited to join WCYC and contribute to such a valuable project and worthwhile cause. Having close family and friends that have taken on caring roles, and seen the challenges and struggles that they face, I can see how essential it is for people to know where to turn for help and support and to feel comfortable in doing so.  I have already learnt so much and met some truly inspiring people within my first couple of weeks of being here.

“What has really surprised me is the number of unpaid carers across the Tees Valley, estimated to be around 30,000 and made me realise that as a wife, mum and daughter I could one day find myself in the position of becoming a carer myself.   

“One of the things I’m looking forward to is connecting with local carers, capturing the reality of unpaid care, and sharing those stories with a wider audience to raise awareness and encourage a better understanding and appreciation of unpaid care. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m eager to get started and play my part in supporting this fantastic initiative.”