Suzanne Virdee becomes a patron of Crossroads Caring for Carers

Caring for Carers was a fictional charity in the soap opera Crossroads that became a real support network in the 1970s.

The respite organisation recently signed up journalist and broadcaster Suzanne Virdee as their latest patron. Suzanne recently visited Crossroads’ “Information Point” situated on a crossroads in Powick. ‘We very much look forward to working with Suzanne on our next journey.’ noted Caring for Carers Worcestershire on social media.

Suzanne Virdee:

“[I’m] Delighted to be a patron for a charity doing such important work that often goes overlooked”

Suzanne became a journalist at the age of 18, working as a trainee reporter at the Solihull Times in her home town. She passed her journalism exams and switched to television journalism, working for Central News in Birmingham. She has also been part of BBC Midlands’ news output and in more recent times has been seen on ITV News nationally and 5 News from Channel 5.

2019: Tony Adams opens the ‘Crossroads’ former phone box, now a Caring for Carers information point. It stands at a cross roads in Worcestershire.

Crossroads Care originated from the TV soap when it featured a storyline in which motel owner Meg Richardson, played by Noele Gordon, looked after her disabled son, Sandy. This created such interest among real-life Carers that programme-makers ATV donated £10,000 towards a caring-for-carers pilot scheme, which was to become the start of Crossroads Care branches across the country.

Crossroads Caring for Carers is run, as ITV was, on a region-by-region basis with Suzanne joining the Worcestershire branch of the charity. Their original patron is Tony Adams who played Adam Chance in Crossroads for a decade. In 2019 he officially opened their promotion point in a former telephone box.

Related News: Jacki Piper becomes ambassador for Crossroads Care