Caroline Blackburn 26 July 1977 – 7 June 2014
It is with great sadness and shock that we are looking back on the life of Caroline Blackburn, a woman so full of energy and who had such a joy for participating that her recent death will no doubt have stopped many of us in our tracks.
Caroline worked for the Alliance, running the Kirklees peer advocacy team after spending a number of years studying to be a fully qualified and experienced counsellor. She had recently returned to university once more to continue her studies – Caroline had a thirst for knowledge that her friends and family noted from her early years.
She gave her role in Kirklees everything, as she did with all aspects of her life. She fought tirelessly for better services for drug and alcohol users and gave many the opportunity for training and volunteering, helping with their transition away from chaotic use and supporting people to believe in themselves once more. Caroline steered the service user scene towards a level of professionalism that had at times been previously lacking.
Many will remember Caroline from the annual DDN/Alliance service user conference, hearing that laugh and seeing that smile. She has left a daughter, of whom she was immensely proud, and a host of friends and family that will hold her dear in their memories.
Caroline – you will be sorely missed.
Maddy, Jules, Peter, Beryl, Ursula, Daren, Tony, Lee, Dave (former Alliance colleagues) and those that worked closely with Caroline over the years.