Carers Week
Carers Week
Carers week runs from 6th-12th June 2022 raising awareness of the varying roles of unpaid Carers, acknowledging what Carers do and the challenges they face. At least 1 in 10 people nationally are Carers (2011 census data) and yet many do not identify themselves as being so or realise that they don’t have to care on their own. Many people forget that alongside caring for someone else, they have to have time for themselves to support their own wellbeing.
Are you a Carer?
There are a lot of Carer roles, from those supporting someone living with dementia, long term conditions or supporting people living with short- or long-term mental illness. Carers can be any age, from young children up to older adults, and sometimes with people taking on more than one caring role. Some Carers are what have been referred to as ‘Sandwich Carers’ and support both a child or young person, and one or more adults, often while working as well.
Parent Carers – looking after a child or young adult with physical disability or learning difficulty or additional needs.
Caring for a family member, friend, or neighbour - looking after and supporting someone who has become ill, disabled, or needs extra support with their daily lives. This can be through physical or mental health difficulties, or through substance misuse.
Gloucestershire Carers Hub
Gloucestershire Carers Hub can help in a variety of ways, such as:
Support is available to all Carers, including those who are recently bereaved, or have had a change in their caring role, such as the person being cared for moving into a residential home. They can offer advice and guidance on money, benefits, and signposting or referring Carers to other services that can offer specific, specialised support. The team at the Hub will offer support to help Carers understand contingency plans and can offer registration to a Carers Emergency Scheme. The Hub can offer Carers the Care Act Assessment to help understand what support plans would benefit their role to ensure that the Carer can have time to themselves and keep themselves well. Gloucestershire Carers Hub can also support people if the person they care for lives in the county, but they do not.
Look at their website for more information about other services that they offer.
Suggested Reads
Here are some uplifting and funny reads especially for carers and many are available digitally, in large print or on audio C.D.! Here are a few of the titles below.
For Young Carers
Mud by Emily Thomas
Based on the author’s real experience. 13-year-old Lydia is going to have to live on a sailing barge… with her dad, his girlfriend and her three children. Struggles with the leaky cabin, damp clothes and new family nearly make her start to sink but the tide turns and with it, new hope. Perfect for fans of Louise Rennison, Hilary McKay and Rae Earl. Also available as e-book.
For Adult Carers
Making it: How Love, Kindness and Community Helped Me Repair My Life by Jay Blades
Prime time TV favourite for good reason, Jay writes an inspirational memoir full of his positivity and kindness. It Portrays a man determined to make the best of his life and make life better for others. At 15 he leaves school with no qualifications, severe dyslexia, and a victim of violent racism. However, in his thirties he finds his vocation in restoration. Not content to settle with this, when he “makes it,” he is also determined to help by mentoring others. Also available as eAudio book.
