This week (5 to 11 June) is Carers Week and Carers Plus Yorkshire warning that many unpaid family carers in the area could be missing out on vital support and financial payments as the cost-of-living soars.
The theme of Carers Week this year is “recognising and supporting carers in the community”. It aims to make sure unpaid carers – anyone looking after a family member or friend who could not cope without their support because of an illness, disability or addiction - get the information and help they need.
However, many people do not identify themselves as an unpaid carer, meaning they could be locked out of vital payments like Carer’s Allowance and access to much-needed respite from their caring role.
Carers Week comes amid a cost-of-living crisis that is badly hitting unpaid carers. Due to a creaking social care system that has left them with ever greater responsibilities, many unpaid carers were already struggling before the current rise in prices and bills.
A survey of 2,675 unpaid carers by national charity Carers Trust showed one in seven (14%) unpaid carers have needed to use a food bank. Nearly two-thirds (64%) had either been forced to give up work completely or reduce their paid hours because of their caring role, plunging them further into financial hardship.
At Carers Plus Yorkshire we are urging unpaid carers to:
· Contact us for support, advice, peer group meetings and tips on getting respite.
· Ask the council/local authority for a carer’s assessment (in England and Wales) which looks at the support you need. This could include regular respite and carer breaks.
· See if you can apply for Carer’s Allowance, which is the main benefit for unpaid carers at £76.75 a week. You may be eligible if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring, don’t earn more than £139 per week and the person you care for receives a disability benefit. You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
Carers Week
This year’s theme allows us to widen our reach and work alongside our Community Service teams to increase the awareness of Carers in our Communities. Working collaboratively with community services will ensure that more people are championing the phenomenal work that unpaid carers do!
Along with planned events for Carers, Carers Plus will be ‘at place’ within the community offering Carer Champion Training, talks and presentations at community events, along with hosting events stands in community spaces where hidden carers may be identified. You will see us in supermarkets, GP surgeries, schools and community events across our geography. To find out more details of our events during Carers Week follow the CPY Events Link
'Across our footprint at Carers Plus Yorkshire, we remain proud to place unpaid family carers at the heart of our work. To be a supporter of Carers Week and helping raise awareness is vitally important. Identification of carers is at the heart of everything we do it is extremely important to continue to develop a better understanding of what their needs are (and the needs of those they care for) so that Carers Plus can provide targeted support. Providing support through the whole family approach method can lead to improved social, emotional and physical wellbeing and enhance their ability to provide ongoing support and care.' Elizabeth McPherson CEO
'The support I received from CPY was fantastic. I felt listened to, this really had a positive impact on my self-confidence and my mental health. I no longer feel isolated as I can now attend groups and meet new people in similar situations and who understand the impact that carting can have on you if you don’t make time for yourself. I know where to turn to if I need more support and will highly recommend Carers plus Yorkshire!' Quote from a Carer we supported.
Please contact us for more information or to find out what support we can offer you. You can also click here to visit our events calendar to find out what we groups we have on this week.
E: admin@carersplus.net
T: 01723 850155
To find out more about Carers Week 2023 - you can visit - https://www.carersweek.org/