Carers week 5-11 June 2023

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

If you care for someone living in South Gloucestershire, local support events happening during Carers Week 5-11 June 2023 that you can take part in include:

• a Carers Voice event with free pampering, lunch and information stalls
• a Carers Group meeting
• Hospital Information event
• Walk & Talk.

Find out more: Carers Support Centre gears up for Carers Week (June 5 – 11) | Carers Support Centre

This Carers Week, we wanted to tell you about some of the work that has been taking place to ensure better support.

Personalisation of support for carers

As part of our Carers Strategy, you told us:

“Tailor the service to suit the needs of each individual and family.”

Personalisation has been a key theme during our re-commissioning of Carers support services, ensuring all Carers can access support that suits them, regardless of their background or situation. We commissioned The Carers Support Centre to focus on engaging with carers who may find it difficult to access existing services to ensure they have support that is relevant to them.

We are also reviewing the Carers assessment and review process to ensure it is as meaningful as possible. We want to ensure all of our carers have the same opportunity to discuss their aspirations and get the support to make them a reality.

One of our South Glos Carers describes the positive assessment experience in their own words:

“As a follow up as a carers assessment Abby produced a solution which gives me a break in a different way. She arranged for direct payments for ‘creative therapy’. Swimming was my passion pre-pandemic and then with my husband’s health changing in that time it was no longer an option. The music and art I’ve been able to do have been a close replacement. It’s a way to empty my stress jar and gives me contact with people who have the same interests.

Abby saw me as a person and not me as a carer, and recognised that I was struggling badly. Until this I knew nothing of direct payments.

Having time for me, that I can still do at the same time as caring, gives me a sense of knowing I’m more than just a carer.”

Information and advice

As part of our Carers Strategy, Carers told us that they have limited time to search for information, they need key information about being a carer in one place and to be accessible outside of working/school hours. We are working with carers to develop a carers area of the website that is easy to navigate, has useful links, and can be used as a tool to quickly access support for you and the person you are caring for.

We are also developing a ‘carers checklist’ which will contain helpful reminders relating to your caring role, including ideas on how to keep yourself well. Some articles are in development but you can see the carers area of the website here : Caring for someone | South Gloucestershire (southglos.gov.uk)