Carers Rights Day is an annual awareness day that recognises the vital contribution of the UK’s unpaid carers.
This year’s Carers Rights Day campaign will focus on raising awareness of the rights that unpaid carers have. The pandemic has had a massive impact on the lives of carers, affecting access to services, the ability to juggle work and care and much more. That’s why it’s more important than ever that carers are aware of their rights.
An unpaid carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness, substance misuse issue, or who needs extra help as they grow older.
For some, taking on a caring role can be sudden: someone in your family has an accident or your child is born with a disability. For others, caring responsibilities can grow gradually over time: your parents can’t manage on their own any longer or your partner’s mental or physical health gradually worsens. The amount and type of support that carers provide varies considerably. It can range from a few hours a week, such as picking up prescriptions and preparing meals, to providing emotional support or personal care day and night.
In Walsall there are currently estimated to be over 30,000 people undertaking a caring role.
Councillor Keir Pedley Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Walsall Council said, “Caring will touch each and every one of us in our lifetime, whether we become a carer or require care and support ourselves. Whilst caring can be a rewarding experience, it can also have a huge impact on a person’s health, finances, relationships and wellbeing”
“The Council is supporting the call to individuals, services and organisations to help increase awareness and recognise the outstanding contribution made by carers and helping them get the practical, financial and emotional support they need to care for a loved one as well as supporting their own well-being”
“Under the Care Act all carers, including young carers, are entitled to a Carers Assessment and access to information and advice.
“There are a range of ways in which the Walsall Carers Centre can offer support to carers in the borough and I encourage all carers to get in touch and find out more.”
Andy Hawes Walsall Carers Centre said “We work with around 2000 unpaid carers in Walsall that are providing unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem.”
“We want to ensure that carers in the borough have access to help and support and make sure that they know what their rights are. If anyone needs information or just a friendly voice to talk to, please do not hesitate to give us a call.”
Information, advice and guidance is available from Walsall Carer’s Centre by calling 01922 610810 or by email at contact@walsallcarers.org. Further information is available on the Walsall Carers website: www.walsallcarers.org
