The Colchester Carers Centre was founded in 1997 and opened the service on 1st January 1999 from premises leased from New Century Care in what was formerly the BUPA Centre of the Oaks Hospital.

The Centre is managed by Shirley Cuthew, the Company Secretary, who is a retired Children and Families Social Worker. Shirley is responsible to the Board of Trustees and manages the Personal Assistant to the Trustees and a small team of sessional workers.

The Colchester Carers Centre aims to provide support, advice and information, including signposting to other agencies, to all carers whether they are living within Colchester and its environs or the wider demographic area. Offering help to individual carers but ensuring that the needs of the cared for person and other family members are given equal consideration.

To network and liase with both local and national statutory and voluntary agencies, working in the field of social welfare, to represent and support the expressed needs and views of carers and their families to maintain their independence and right to fulfilment and choice in all areas of their lives. To provide a Centre of excellence and a model of good practice in the provision of a Young Carers Project for children looking after an adult family member which also takes into account the needs of the cared for adult and siblings.