Knowsley Council is supporting National Carers Week (5-11 June) and helping to celebrate the contribution carers make to families and communities.
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 don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
The theme of this year’s Carers Week is ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community’. The campaign highlights that unpaid carers, and the challenges of caring, should be recognised in all areas of life, caring should be valued and respected by everyone in our society, and carers should have access to the information and support they need, where and when they need it. Carers often don’t see themselves as carers when caring for someone with a mental health diagnosis. It is important that carers consider their own mental wellbeing and have access to the right support for themselves.
What’s happening during Carers Week?
Knowsley Carers Centre offers a range of services to support unpaid carers who live in Knowsley, or care for a Knowsley resident. These include information and advice, benefits advice, carers ID and emergency cards, training activities, social groups, breaks, and counselling.
The centre is hosting two events in Knowsley during Carers Week:
Mersey Care’s Celebration for Unpaid Carers, Tuesday, 6 June, 10am – 2pm, Knowsley Carers Centre, Bewley Drive, Kirkby.
Carers are invited to come along and chat to staff and take part in art and craft sessions. There are also free hand and scalp massages and a buffet.
Food and Friendship event, Thursday 8 June 11.30am to 2.30pm at Knowsley Carers Centre.
Come along and meet other carers and enjoy a tasty buffet.
Call Knowsley Carers Centre on Tel 0151 549 1412 to book a place at both events.
For more information about Knowsley Carers Centre, email enquiries@knowsleycarers.co.uk or visit the Knowsley Carers website. Read their latest newsletter.
Support for carers in Knowsley
Knowsley Council’s All Age Carers Strategy 2020 – 25 aims to ensure all carers are recognised and valued and that they receive supportive services, enabling them to have a quality of life similar to those without caring responsibilities. Read more here.
The Council also provides support to carers to maintain a good quality of life. For a discussion on how you can be supported contact the team on 0151 443 2600.
Hospital trusts across the Merseyside and Cheshire region have worked together with carers and carer organisations to develop a Carer Passport for use when a person is admitted to hospital for an inpatient stay. The passport provides information to managers and key healthcare professionals and details a partnership agreement in supporting the care of the patient during their stay in hospital.