Meet Jacqui: The Parent Carer Who Believed in inCharge Before There Was Anything to Test
Jacqui was the first person to sign up to test the App from a family's perspective – long before there was anything to test.
Meet Jacqui
I’m Jacqui Darlington, based in Rutland. I’m a mum to two wonderful sons, the youngest of which has Down’s Syndrome, autism and no understandable speech to those outside of the immediate family. I’m the founder of the Out of Hours Club Rutland. I’ve also been involved in lots of national work as a lived experience partner, including with Think Local Act Personal, NCAG, IMPACT and the Co-production Collective. My heart is in making sure voices like my son’s - and other families like ours - are truly heard. I have a deep passion for supporting parent carers. I was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of my services to the community.
Why did you get involved in inCharge testing?
Honestly, it was the people-first approach. I could see straight away that inCharge wasn’t about managing care from a top-down perspective - it was about building trust and relationships. That really spoke to me. It’s clear that Karen understands the problem deeply as she’s a parent carer herself. I knew the app could make a difference for families like mine, and I wanted to help shape it from the ground up. Families have always supported families, that’s what we need to do.
Are you techy yourself?
I always had an interest in technology and how it can help us in our daily lives. I wouldn’t say I’m techy but I have built a website from scratch. I have been involved in testing other social care technologies. During Covid I got funding for tablets to ensure the young people were connected when the Out of Hours Club couldn’t meet in person. There is so much more we could be doing in terms of digital skills and inclusion.
In your own words, why does the inCharge App matter?
Because life is complicated enough when you’re juggling care and support for your family, and quite often for yourself, with support workers, keeping on top of it all, and just trying to give your loved one the best life possible. inCharge simplifies the chaos. It keeps the person at the centre, makes communication clearer, and keeps everyone in the loop, especially when you’re not there to explain things face to face. It helps us live, not just manage care.
I am enjoying the testing, I have been supporting Karen since the beginning, since I met her several years ago. I think it’s more than an App, inCharge is building a community and I’m part of that community.
Click on the links to find out more about Jacqui and the Rutland Out of Hours Club