What is Carers Week and why is it important? In this blog post, we explore what is going on for Carers Week 2023 and the launch of our new North East and North Cumbria VCSE Carers Sub-Group.
What is Carers Week?
“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.” – Find out more.
The theme for this years’ campaign is 'Recognising and supporting carers in the community'.
Who is a Carer?
“A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction, or who needs extra help as they grow older. It isn’t someone who volunteers or is employed to provide support.” – Find out more.
Issues which carers may face.
There are various difficulties and issues which carers may face including:
- Managing their own mental health, being isolated and/or lonely.
- Neglecting their own health care and/or self-care.
- Balancing work with caring responsibilities.
- Sometimes feeling the need to leave work in order to fulfil caring responsibilities.
- Facing further marginalisation if the carer is from an underrepresented group, Black and Minoritized Communities, who face more financial difficulties than other carers and LGBTQIA+ carers who often feel isolated.
Find out more about these issues - Key facts and figures | Carers UK
Our new NENC VCSE Carers Sub-Group
In our VONNE Health and Wellbeing team we host Sub-Groups for communities of interest. For example, we have Ageing Well, LGBTQIA+, and now we are going to host a Carers group. The Sub-Groups are a part of our NENC VCSE Partnership Programme. They provide representation for their communities and feed into our Partnership Forum, Executive Group and NHS Clinical Networks within the geographic area of our ICS.
Our Sub-Groups are for people specifically responsible for health and wellbeing policy and strategic work within their VCSE organisation. People who take part in Sub-Groups receive regular programme information as well as the latest health and care developments in our region. Sub-Groups also allow for participants to actively connect with other VCSE sector colleagues in our region to focus on key areas of policy and strategy.
Our first NENC VCSE Carers Sub-Group is due to take place on Thursday, 29th June 2023 at 1:00pm – 2:30pm. For further information contact sian.dickie@vonne.org.uk
Resources for carers
Carer's allowance and payment advice | Age UK
Carer's Allowance: How it works - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
End of life care for a person with dementia | Alzheimer's Society (alzheimers.org.uk)