Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for someone for a while, it’s important that you understand your rights and what support is out there to support you, wherever you are in your caring journey. Whether you are in the workplace, a healthcare setting, when interacting with professionals or at home.
It may feel as if you are juggling two jobs when you are in paid work or studying and caring for a friend or relative. Caring can be unpredictable; it can happen overnight or creep up on you and often can’t be planned. Being a carer can take its toll on your wellbeing – it is more important than ever that you look after your own health too.
Carers Rights Day is held on 25 November. This year, the Carers and Community Support Team and our health and community partners want to empower you with the knowledge that you need, so you can feel confident asking for what you need, when you need it. To support this, we have brought together a free programme of in-person activities and online short-talks.
Councillor Catherine Hughes, Carers Lead and Cabinet member with responsibility for Porth Gofal, Early Intervention, Wellbeing Hubs and Culture said: “It’s wonderful to be able to bring carers together again in small groups as well as continuing with online advice too. This programme appeals to a variety of unpaid Carers such as parent carers, dementia carers and those caring for someone affected by mental health or substance misuse issues.”
If you know of anyone with caring responsibilities who would benefit from these free activities, please pass it on. There’s no shame in reaching out for advice when you need it; it takes a strong person to carry on caring – it takes a stronger, more resilient person to reach out to others.
The programme of activities for unpaid carers is available on the Council’s website at: www.ceredigion.gov.uk/carers-rights-day-2021/ and on our Facebook page @CeredigionCC under events.
Supporting unpaid carers in employment
To raise awareness about the rights of unpaid carers and the potential benefits to local businesses of supporting unpaid carers, the Carers and Community Support Team have published a digital pack containing information and advice for Ceredigion based small and medium enterprises* (SME’s) whose staff may be juggling paid work and unpaid care. Research shows that around 600 people a day, in the UK, quit their job to care for a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill[2]. It also suggests that resulting staff absence, stress and turnover could be costing UK businesses over £3.5 billion every year.
There could be significant savings to be made by better supporting carers to manage work alongside caring. To find out more about how your business can support unpaid carers in Ceredigion, download the new information pack for SME’s: www.ceredigion.gov.uk/carersinemployment
For more information, or to request a printed copy of the programme contact us on 01970 633564 or e-mail carersunit@ceredigion.gov.uk
*Organisations with less than 250 employees
[1] Carers UK – Juggling work and unpaid care report, 2019
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