To mark National Carers Week (Monday 6 June to Sunday 12 June), Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust have been helping to promote a programme of events and activities for carers across parts of Essex to take some time out and enjoy.
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 do not think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
The week is a chance to highlight the challenges that carers experience in providing unpaid care and support to family members, friends and neighbours. It also provides awareness of the amount of support that is available for them and how to access it.
Kelly Miller, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s Carer Project and Training Officer for Essex, said: “There are 6.5 million unpaid carers in the UK and 145,000 of these are living in Essex and Carer’s week allows us to celebrate the impact that carer’s have not just on their loved ones, but also on society as a whole
“Carers want their voices to be heard, and they deserve to be recognised for the difficult challenges they face in living their lives to the fullest whilst providing care and support to another person.”
Part of Kelly’s role is to be a source of information, advice and support around the Carers Agenda as well as supporting the Carers Team, who are responsible for undertaking Carers Assessments and Reviews, and recognising the excellent pieces of work they do.
Kelly is also a source of support to EPUT’s Community Teams, promoting understanding and awareness of the importance of identifying carers and referring them for Carers Assessment in order for carers to feel valued and supported, and recognising the invaluable role they play in the care and support of our service users.
This year EPUT’s dedicated Carer Support Service have referred 274 carers to our services. The service gives carers an opportunity to talk about their caring role and responsibilities they also provide details of the many local carers’ groups, helplines and mental health organisations that can provide further information and support to carers.
As part of Carers Week, carers of all ages across Essex are invited to take part in fun-filled events such as flower arranging, afternoon teas and tea parties throughout the week. A full list and timetable of upcoming events can be found here.
Over the next few months, the Carers Team will be launching informal Coffee and Support Sessions for carers of those receiving a service under EPUT. The team will be piloting their first session in Colchester and plan to circulate a flyer to our Community Teams and pre-existing carers with full details of the event.