News

October 2016

Event turns spotlight on the rights of Wiltshire’s thousands of unpaid carers

Carer Support Wiltshire staged events at hospitals across the county to reach out to the thousands of unpaid carers who may be missing out on services and benefits.

As part of Carers’ Rights Day on November 25, staff and volunteers from Carer Support Wiltshire were at Salisbury General and Swindon’s Great Western Hospital. They were joined by Salisbury MP John Glen and Swindon ice hockey team, the Swindon Wildcats.

There were also information stands at Chippenham, Savernake and Warminster hospitals, and at Bath’s Royal United Hospital, where Carer Support Wiltshire runs a carers’ hub – an advice point for carers to seek advice.

Catharine Hurford, Carer Support Wiltshire chief executive, said: “We want to reach as many carers as possible from Wiltshire, with information and advice about the range of support they are entitled to – whether that’s certain benefits or practical help, like getting adaptations in the home.

“We already support many carers in the county, but there are more than 47,500 and we want to reach out to all of them and let them know what they are entitled to, and how we can help. Many, many carers are missing out and they don’t need to.”

Carers’ Rights Day is an annual national awareness campaign organised by the charity Carers UK, which aims to reach as many of the 6.5 million carers in the UK as possible with information about their rights and the financial and practical help they are entitled to; this includes benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, respite and access to equipment and technology which can help them in their caring role.

Heléna Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “More people than ever are providing unpaid care to family members and friends. No matter where you are on your caring journey – whether you’re starting to care for a loved one, have been caring for a while, or your caring role has come to an end – it is vital that you are able to get the help and advice you need, when you need it. Without this support, caring can take a serious toll on your health, finances and ability to have a life outside of caring.”