You Care, I Care

Today’s guest is Fiona Scott, a friend and brilliant colleague who has her own successful PR and media company, working with many, many clients in all different professions. She successfully helps them to be visible, through their PR and media.

The main thing we’re talking about is how there is often a misconception that care doesn’t need PR – which Fiona, as you’ll hear, strongly disagrees with. She sees care as a Cinderella service in the public’s mind; for example, it wasn’t even mentioned in our new government’s manifesto. Part of this discussion is the importance to recognise carers as professionals.

We have a conversation about why people possibly don’t want to talk about care: fear.

Fear for all of us, because it is something we can need at any time in our lives, not just when we’re old – but we don’t like to talk about it. There is also possibly the fear that the media won’t talk about it kindly.

One of Shreeve Care’s most important goals is for people to understand that we all have choices about our care, and yet often don’t realise that. Fiona shares how, many years ago, whilst bringing up small children, she had to look after her husband who had a brain tumour, and how she hated being a carer, felt guilty about that, and received no support whatsoever, which in turn made her ill. People end up having to care for loved ones because they don’t always know where to look for help.

Fiona talks about how journalists can help people to share their experiences either anonymously or personally, but either way, the telling of those stories can open up discussion and bring things into the public arena. We talk about how we are both working with a couple presently to get their story heard both locally and nationally, with the aim to help others in the same situation.

Fiona expresses her ideology; that as an experienced journalist, she always has a duty of care for people she works with to understand what working with her means – especially in terms of sharing stories in public. This is where PR can shine a light on the situation of one client – but when others read or hear about their story. they realise that they’re not alone in being affected by the same issues.

You can find out more about Fiona at www.scottmedia.uk

For more information about Shreeve Care Services visit www.shreevecareservices.co.uk