Inspirational mother battles tragedy to dedicate life to helping others (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Inspirational Darlington mother battles tragedy to dedicate life to helping others

5:00am Saturday 9th March 2013 in News By Joanna Morris

AN inspirational mother battled with personal tragedy to dedicate her life to helping vulnerable people.

Darlington single mum Wendy Collins has worked in the care industry for more than 15 years and never clocks off, dedicating hours of her own time to helping others despite suffering from ill health and losing her parents in recent years.

The modest 52-year-old works tirelessly to offer support and advice to those living with dementia and their carers. She will shortly begin running sessions in the community, in her own time, dedicated to training people in how to support those with dementia.

She spends 15 hours a week managing a busy website devoted to finding jobs for Darlington people and regularly helps strangers, friends and family fill in job applications and access essential advice and support.

In 2009, her efforts helping victims of domestic violence landed her the Crisis Changing Lives Support Worker of the Year prize.

Her 28-year-old son Colin and her colleagues at Sanctuary Supported Living describe her as inspirational but Ms Collins is reluctant to accept any praise.

She said: “I am shocked people see me as inspirational. I work with people every day who give an enormous amount of care to family members and friends and to me, they are the inspirational ones.

“Carers need strong advocates and I just do what I can. I am like a dog with a bone because when people don’t have the right knowledge, they can fall through gaps."