COMMUNICATIONS manager Neil Burgess is poised to launch a website to help people caring for friends or family to connect with each other.

Mr Burgess, of Bolts Croft, Chippenham, was awarded £4,000 by social enterprise charity Unltd to create website Cura after being inspired on his honeymoon.

The website, which is free to use, is now almost ready to launch, and Mr Burgess said he hopes it will be a hit with carers.

“This all came out of taking care of my grandparents,” he said.

“I really noticed that the family all rallied around at difficult times, and wants to take on things to help out, but it takes a huge effort to mobilise people effectively.

“The time it takes to call around everyone and find someone who can do that trip to the doctors could be better spent with my grandparents.

“Also, the interaction of finding someone to do these things can be quite intrusive, and people feel obliged to agree to do something, even if it’s difficult for them.”

The website works by setting up a secure online community, and then uploading all the tasks an ill or infirm person may need help with, like putting out the bins or picking up the shopping.

Members can then go onto the website and ‘grab’ the ones they can help with.

Mr Burgess, who works for npower, said he had decided against setting up a Facebook group to link people together as it is too complicated.

“It could be done over Facebook, but it comes with its own set of problems, as for people like my mum, this isn’t a simple thing,” he said.

“I decided to do the website as it is very secure and anyone can use it without worrying that their information is being shared or leaked.”

He thought up the idea while on honeymoon last year.

“The idea came to me when I was lying on a sunlounger in Greece,” he said.

“My grandparents had been ill and it was putting a lot of pressure on the family to help and get things done for them. I thought there had to be an easier way to share out the tasks.

“When we got home, I floated the idea and it was a popular one, so I did a bit of research and ultimately applied for the Unltd grant, which helped it to become a reality.

“The most important thing is that it will always remain free to those who need it.”

The website has not yet launched, but it will become available at www.curahq.com in the next few weeks.