As Carers’ Rights Day begins across the UK, seven inspiring social action projects across the UK have been awarded £700,000 to support unpaid family carers, including Thirsk Community Care in North Yorkshire and York.
- Carers’ Rights Day – 28 November 2014
Thirsk Community Care has been awarded £110,000 of funding in partnership with 11 other charities across the area.
The funding will be used to develop the carers respite sitting services already established in the region.
The project will employ 4 full time ‘volunteer champions’ across the area who will identify and recruit volunteers to provide respite sitting services for carers and promote the sitting service to attract 250 carers who will be new to the service . The focus of the project will be to support carers aged over 50 years, and/or those living in rural areas.
The investment recognises the impact volunteers, including carers supporting each other, can make on carers feeling supported in their caring role – whether by allowing them to take a break from caring; sharing their experiences of caring; or receiving practical and emotional support.
The funding will help six other volunteering programmes across the country provide crucial support for unpaid family carers, including young adult carers and carers of people with dementia.
Others awarded funding include the British Red Cross Shropshire, Age UK Buckinghamshire, Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Devon Carers, Parkinson’s UK, and Shared Lives Plus.
Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson said: I am delighted to announce the winners of the Carers Social Action Support Fund. These projects showcase the potential of social action to support carers in their caring role.
From enabling isolated older carers to take time out from caring, to equipping young adult carers with key life skills, social action can make a real difference to people carrying out this incredibly important role.
