Carers Rights Day tomorrow raises awareness of the rights of unpaid and family carers

Carers Rights Day 2021 is tomorrow (Thursday 25 November 2021): an annual event run by Carers UK, and a great opportunity to raise awareness of the rights of unpaid and family carers.

Shropshire Council places huge value on the role of unpaid carers and recognises the importance of unpaid caring in supporting the health and wellbeing of people in Shropshire. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who have disabilities, are ill or older and who need support.

It’s important that carers understand their rights and are able to find the advice and support that they are looking for. Carers need to know their rights wherever they are in their caring journey: whether they are in the workplace, in a healthcare setting, when interacting with professionals, or at home.

Each year, Carers Rights Day helps to:

• ensure carers are aware of their rights
• let carers know where to get help and support
• raise awareness of the needs of carers.

This Carers Rights Day, Carers UK wants to empower carers with information and support, so they can feel confident asking for what they need. This is so important, and we want carers in Shropshire to get the right advice and support and to do this in ways and at times that suit them best.

Carers in Shropshire looking for advice and support can speak to someone in our Carers Support Team by calling 01743 341995 (Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pm, or emailing shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk

More information about what the support team can help with can be found at –https://shropshire.gov.uk/the-send-local-offer/family-support/shropshire-carers-support/ . As well as information about the rights of unpaid carers, there is a Carers Register that carers can join and a useful emergency plan template.

We have pulled together lots of information for carers about staying well over the winter into one useful guide. The darker, colder days of winter can be hard for many of us and for people with caring responsibilities they can feel particularly difficult. The guide can be found at https://shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-choices/caring-for-someone-else/ .

Mobilise provides advice for carers in Shropshire in a range of ways through its website, weekly emails and online peer forums. It’s particularly good for working carers as you can talk to someone in the Mobilise team in the evenings or at the weekend. More information can be found at – https://www.mobiliseonline.co.uk/ https://www.mobiliseonline.co.uk/carers-rights

The national Carers UK website has got lots of information found at –  https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/carers-rights-day

Tanya Miles, Shropshire Council’s executive director for people, said:-

“The vital role of unpaid and family carers cannot be underestimated, and it’s so important that carers get the advice and support they need. The rights of unpaid and family carers are important every day, and Carers Rights Day is the opportunity to remind us all that there are thousands of people in Shropshire caring for a relative or friend and supporting Shropshire’s health and wellbeing. I hope that carers will get in touch with us and take a look at the information that’s available online to ensure that they’re aware of their rights and getting the support that they need.”