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About Us
The Dòchas Carers Centre provides a welcoming environment where unpaid carers can access practical support, advise and opportunuties to connect with others.
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Our services
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About Us
The Dòchas Carers Centre provides a welcoming environment where unpaid carers can access practical support, advise and opportunuties to connect with others.
Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it can also bring challenges. Dochas Carers Centre offers free support to unpaid carers aged 18 and over, providing emotional support, practical information, and advice to help you maintain your wellbeing while continuing in your caring role.
Adult Carer Support Plan
Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it can also bring challenges. Dochas Carers Centre offers free support to unpaid carers aged 18 and over, providing emotional support, practical information, and advice to help you maintain your wellbeing while continuing in your caring role.
Support Services
Our free support services are designed to help unpaid adult carers feel informed, supported and prepared. Our experienced Support Workers can assist with Adult Carer Support Plans, emergency planning, future planning and connecting you with services that can make a difference.
Groups and Activities
Our groups, activities and drop-ins provide opportunities for carers to take a break, meet others who understand their experiences and access support. We offer arts and crafts activities, seated yoga, a men's group, a parent carers group, a walking group, guest speakers and information sessions, helping carers build connections, share experiences and stay informed.
See our Activities Calendar for upcoming groups and activities.
Counselling Service
Our counselling service is for unpaid adult carers who are registered with us. Use of counselling is a process that helps people to make choices or reach decisions about how to handle their concerns. Our counselling team has two fully trained and qualified members and cover all of MAKI.
To find out more please speak to your Adult Carer Support Worker.
Our services
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Befriending
Our befriending service provides friendship and support to adults aged 18 and over who are feeling lonely or socially isolated. Whether someone finds it difficult to get out and about, lacks confidence going places alone, or would simply enjoy a regular blether, we're here to help. Referrals can be made by the individual themselves, a family member or an organisation.
For further information contact us on 01546 600022 or enquiries@dochas.scot
to find out more
Resources
The range of services and support available can sometimes feel overwhelming. Our Carer Support Workers can help you find the right information, understand your options and access support related to your caring role, wellbeing, finances, benefits, short breaks, employment, learning and much more.
Other Support Services
Whether you need someone to talk to, help understanding your rights, support with technology, or guidance on planning for the future, Dochas is here to help. Explore our range of additional services designed to support you throughout your caring journey.
Services
Helping unpaid carers care for themselves through support, guidance and friendship.
Our History
Discover the story of Dòchas Carers Centre and how we've grown to support unpaid carers across our communities.
Governance
Transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship at the heart of everything we do.
Services
Helping unpaid carers care for themselves through support, guidance and friendship.
Join the Dòchas Team
Join a friendly and dedicated team supporting unpaid adult carers across Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands. Explore our current opportunities and help make a difference in local communities.
Dòchas
Our Funders
The organisations whose support helps us deliver services for unpaid carers across Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands.
Governance
Transparency, accountability and annual reports demonstrating our impact and stewardship.
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About Us
The Dochas Centre is in Lochgilphead, Argyll and was founded in 1998 by John Paterson after John was diagnosed with both Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) and Motor Neurone Disease (MND). He was an artist and psychiatric nurse. John's vision was to bring hope to others living with these incurable conditions by using the sale of reproductions of his art to support care and research. Since John's death in 1998 his wife, Catherine Paterson, has carried on his work. The Dochas Fund became a registered charity in February 2000 and converted to a SCIO in April 2022.
The Dochas Centre was opened in August 2006 and formally opened in April 2007 by HRH The Princess Royal.
What we do
A number of years on, that vision and work continue to operate from the Dochas Centre. The centre houses a Gallery and Counselling room that is available for all carers in the Mid Argyll area and was purpose-built by donations. The Gallery is used for exibitions and is a centre and meeting place for individuals and various groups such as Craft & Chill, Carers Drop In, Parent Carers' Support and the Men's Group. Our centre offers hope, emotional and practical support by providing information, guidance and training for unpaid carers through the maze of service. All our services are free to carers. Within MAKI, we work to improve the lives of all unpaid carers who face particular problems due to the rural and remote aspects of the region.
Meet the Team
Diane Sharp
Manager
Fay MacNeil
Group Support Worker Islay & Jura
Nicole Pate
Senior Support Worker
Mid Argyll
Debbi Silcock
MA Group & Volunteer Co-ordinator
Tracy Chambers
Senior Support Worker
Kintyre
Lesley Weir
Senior Support Worker
Islay & Jura
Roxanne Docherty
Support Worker
Kintyre
Angela Greenhill
T4M Worker
Islay & Jura
Alison Whitefield
Lead Counsellor
You can view our latest annual report here.
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© 2026 Dòchas Carers Centre SCIO
Scottish Charity No SC029821
Address:
Dòchas Centre
50 Campbell Street
Lochgilphead
PA31 8JU
Argyll and Bute
Phone:
+44 1546 600 022
E-mail:
enquiries@dochas.scot
