Karrek Community CIC

Who we are

Karrek was formed as a direct result of the local people’s views being heard and acted upon. Karrek’s vision has always been to form a company with a Christian ethos, which operates in an inclusive way, welcoming anyone equally regardless of circumstances and background.

Karrek was started in 2015 at the request of several families and individuals who were concerned about future support arrangements for people with disabilities in Cornwall. Their desire was to ensure that there remained a choice in support provider for people who may wish to be supported by an organisation that would be sympathetic to their faith perspective. A Community Interest Company was formed to meet this need, which was founded by Paul and Geeta Ashton, who moved to Cornwall to undertake the task.

About Our Directors

Our founders, Paul and Geeta, both have a leadership background. Paul originally trained as a nurse and followed a career in the NHS, where after several years he became Director of Nursing, followed by CEO of an NHS Trust. He has operational and board experience with a number of charities and voluntary organisations, as well as church leadership experience.

Geeta has a missionary background, having left her home in Mauritius at 17 to work for a mission organisation in Italy. She was later ordained as a minister in the USA for the Salvation Army, where she worked in a wide variety of projects including street evangelism, woman trafficking, homelessness, church leadership, children’s work and youth ministry. She also has management experience in the UK Care sector.

This combination of experiences has given Paul and Geeta the skills and passion to serve people who often live at the margins of society, to empower and encourage them to live their lives to the fullest.

Where we are Today

Fast forward to today, and Karrek has expanded its work across three areas:
Karrek Community (supporting adults with learning disabilities, mental health, and brain injury), Karrek Lifestyles (24/7 live in support for vulnerable individuals in their own homes), and Karrek Care (providing support to the older population and people with physical disabilities).

Our culture and values

We have a set of values that govern our identity as a company and serve as a measure of how well we support people:

Empowerment – We believe that people should have control and choice over every aspect of their lives

Inclusion – We believe that people have the right to live as equal citizens in their communities

Dignity – We believe that every person is valued and respected for who they are

Spirituality – We believe that every person has the right to explore the spiritual dimension of their lives

These values are our source of inspiration, and guide our culture, thinking and practice. Our focus is on the needs of the people supported, ensuring that we find the right type of support, and the right support worker for them.