Carers Week: Putting Carers on The Map 2024
To support Carers Week Cornwall Carers Service organised some valuable resources, events and activities that took place between 10th and 16th June 2024. Each day highlighted a key theme for carers, with a number of activities well attended and to finish the week carers were able to attend a special event at the stunning, Truro Cathedral on Friday .
The event will included speakers from experienced professionals with lived experience of being a carer themselves. Our lovely team were around to offer any information, advice and guidance plus there were some fabulous wellbeing activities on offer in the afternoon such as chair yoga, arts and craft and many more - not forgetting tea, coffee and of course, cake!
Key themes for the week included:
Monday 10th - Launching Carers of the latest Carers Week research
Tuesday 11th - Health & Social Care
Wednesday 12th - Work & Employment for Carers
Thursday 13th - Young Carers
Friday 14th - Putting Carers on the Map event @ Truro Cathedral
Thank you to all those who took part!
Carers Trust 'No choice but to care' report launches
Millions of unpaid carers across the UK provide support to a family member, friend or neighbour due to a disability, illness or frailty due to old age. Yet a majority of unpaid carers have no choice but to take on a caring role. While providing unpaid care can be rewarding, it also comes with significant negative impacts on carers’ lives.
The No choice but to care report, published on the first day of Carers Week 2024 found that:
62% of those who are currently providing or those who have previously provided unpaid care said that they had no choice in taking on the role because no other care options were available – this is around 10 million people. [1]
The impact of caring has been more negative than positive for all areas current and former unpaid carers were asked about, particularly for mental health (63%), physical health (53%), Job and ability to work (48%) and finances and savings (47%).
The negative impacts as a result of caring were also felt most strongly by those who had no choice but to take on an unpaid caring role as well as women and those aged 45-54.
The research also found that 73% of members of the public surveyed for the research think that unpaid carers should receive more support from the next Government, particularly financial support and investment in social care.
The report recommends the establishment of a National Carers Strategy, review and reform of social security benefits for carers and better workplace protections and workplace support for unpaid carers. To ensure carers’ health and wellbeing is better supported, the report recommends a new duty on the NHS to have regard to unpaid carers as well as further investment in social care and carers’ breaks. The report also makes recommendations aimed at employers, public bodies and specific recommendations for the UK nations.
