Why you should care about #CarersWeek | Latest news

Carers Week is here, a time to show special appreciation to all of the dedicated carers across the country and the amazing work they do. During this pandemic, carers have been on the frontline, supporting vulnerable people and ensuring they’re well looked after. The Carers Week 2020 Research Report revealed that an additional 4.5 million people are caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives or friends since the Covid-19 pandemic. For a lot of our tenants, care is essential and an integral part of everyday life. During lockdown, many of them have had to rely on support from family members to replace the usual care they receive. This week, we’re helping to Make Caring Visible. 

Thankfully, there are many things we can all do to raise awareness and lots of initiatives that you can get involved in this week.

Care for a cuppa – online chats

It’s important for carers to take a little break and spend some time talking to people who understand some of the ups and downs. Carers UK have organised a weekly online Care for a Cuppa chat through Zoom for carers to have some downtime. To find out more and register to join the weekly chat, visit here.

Online share and learn sessions

Carers UK is also running online sessions where they’ll share tips and skills on a range of topics; the first will be Thursday 18 June on nutrition. This will all be from the comfort of your own home. Visit here where they’ll be announcing more Share and Learn dates after Carers Week.

Even if you don’t have time to attend the above sessions, Why not pledge your support for carers here and be added to Carers UK’s wall of pledges and share your commitment on social media? Remember to tag posts on socials using #CarersWeek and #MakingCaringVisible. Whatever you’re doing to celebrate carers this week, please shout about it as loud as you can.

If you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits, you could get £67.25 a week through DWP’s carer’s allowance. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for to be eligible. To find out more about the carers allowance and other benefits you can receive, visit here.

Whether you’re at home caring for a family member, putting in overtime in your regular care job or delivering groceries for your elderly neighbour, thank you.