8 June 2017

The following information is from our colleagues at Shropshire Council

Young people and adults who care for a loved one, are invited to a series of events across the county in celebration of Carers Week.

The national campaign, between Monday 12 June 2017 and Sunday 18 June 2017, aims to raise awareness of the role of unpaid carers and the invaluable contribution they make.

Carer organisations who support unpaid carers have come together to host the events which include:

  • Tea and Cake Tuesday 13 June from 2pm to 3.30pm, at Raven House, Prospect Road, Market Drayton; Organiser: Carers Trust4all; About: Market Drayton Carers Group welcomes local carers to join them in celebrating Carers Week; Contact: Tel 01743 341995 or email JAllanthwaite@carerstrust4all.org.uk
  • Tea and Cake Wednesday 14 June from 3.45pm to 5.4 p.m at Oswestry Library Organiser: Carers Trust4all About: Celebrating Carers Week Contact: Tell 01743 341995 or email japted@carerstrust4all.org.uk
  • Working Together Workshop Wednesday 14 June from 9am to 1pm at Carers Trust 4all, Unit 12, Sutton Farm Shopping Centre, SY2 6HW Organiser: Parent and Carers Council (PACC) About: Join PACC, the Carers Trust 4All and Shropshire Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS) to celebrate Carers Week 2017. A free lunch will be provided and there will be an opportunity to talk to team members from PACC, Shropshire IASS and the Carers Trust 4All to find out more about the support they can offer. Book your place by ringing 0845 601 2205 or email enquiries@paccshropshire.org.uk
  • Tea and Cake Thursday 15 June from 1pm to 3pm at The Foyer, Ludlow; Organiser: Carers Trust4all; About: Celebrating Carers Week, all welcome; Contact: Tel 01743 341995 or email SMalins@carerstrust4all.org.uk
  • Carers celebration event Thursday 15 June, 1pm to 2pm at Abbotts Wood, Eskdale Road Shrewsbury. Organiser: Shropshire Council’s adult services. About: A celebration event for family carers of people with a learning disability and or autism. An opportunity to meet other carers talk to carers leads and have a cuppa tea and cake. For more information about the event contact Abbotts Wood on 01743 250901.
  • Carers Week Light Lunch (booking essential) Thursday 15 June between 10.30am to 12.30pm at Bridgnorth Carers Group, The Bungalow, Innage Lane Organiser: Carers Trust4all About: Bridgnorth Carers Group welcomes all local carers to join them in celebrating Carers Week. To book call 01743 341995 or email shropshire@carerstrust4all.org.uk
  • Carers Tea Party (booking essential) Free to attend Date and time: Saturday 17 June between 2:00pm and 4:00pm Location: Mereside Community Centre, Shrewsbury Organiser: Carers Trust4all About: Delicious Afternoon Tea with live music from the 60s and 70s. Various stalls including plants, bric-a-brac and tombola. To book call 01743 341995 or email jalanthwaite@carerstrust4all.org.uk
  • Afternoon tea (booking essential as places limited); Monday 19 June from 2pm to 4pm; Location: Bishops Castle in a local garden; Organiser: Carers Trust4all; About: Bishops Castle Carers Group celebrate Carers Week; Contact: Sharon Malins on 01743 341995 or email SMalins@carerstrust4all.org.uk

Shropshire Council’s library service will also be high highlighting the wide range of resources that are available to carers. For more information about your local library, follow the link to shropshire.gov.uk/libraries

Carers’ organisations across Shropshire form part of the county’s Family Carers Partnership board who work together to:

  • bring together family carers and people from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors to ensure effective local coordination and strategic planning
  • ensure that family carers, including young carers are involved and barriers are identified and overcome. This will include; holding appropriate services to account, monitoring adequacy of services and optimising resource allocation to improve the wellbeing of carers
  • improve the lives of family carers and those they care for within Shropshire

Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s director of adult services and housing, and member of the Family Carers Partnership board, said: “Over 34,000 people in Shropshire are caring for someone, including more than 600 young carers.

“Many people do not recognise themselves as carers, and see this simply as part of being a family member, spouse, partner, friend or neighbour. We want to send out a message to the Shropshire community that carers provide an invaluable role in our community, helping others to remain independent and in their own homes, and we want to ensure we are providing the best support possible to them.

“I hope many will come along to these events and enjoy the time to relax and have a chat with colleagues and support organisations.”

Sarah Thomas, Participation Co-ordinator from the Shropshire Parent and Carer Council (PACC), added: “PACC welcomes the recognition by Shropshire of the role of parent carers and all they do to support children and young people with disabilities or additional needs. Parent carers have a huge amount to offer, both to each other and to the services that they use, through sharing their knowledge and experience. We hope that parent carers will enjoy the opportunity to meet up at these events and help us to celebrate Carers Week 2017.”

Andy Craven, Registered Care Manager for Carers Trust4all, said: “Carers Trust4all is celebrating Carers Week with events across the county, which we invite local carers to come along to. We know that carers often do not identify themselves and ask for help, until they have reached crisis point. We want to work in partnership with local services and local communities to provide practical and preventative help to carers and promote their health and well-being.”

Thousands of events are taking place across the country this week, and thousands of people have already pledged their support for carers online. To find out more about Carers week and to pledge your support visit www.carersweek.org

Further information

Carers Trust4all

Carers Truat4all wants to make sure that unpaid carers can access the information and support they need to help prevent them from reaching crisis point as a result of their caring responsibilities. Carers Trust4all works to provide information, help and support to carers of all ages across Shropshire. Our services include:

  • Information, support and advice through our Support Line and face to face in a range of local community settings
  • Home visits to provide individual advice and help
  • Carers Emergency Response Service to give carers peace of mind should anything unexpected happen which prevents them from caring
  • Flexible breaks for carers, with care delivered in the home
  • Outings , activities and events in local areas
  • Carers Support Groups
  • Support for Young Carers

PACC

PACC works to empower Shropshire parent carers of children with any special educational need or disability (SEND) aged 0-25, to enable them to actively contribute to the design and review of the services that they use. We do this by providing opportunities for parent carers to share their experience and knowledge of what works or doesn’t work in the everyday lives of families with children and young people with SEND.

PACC works with families to improve services and to bring parent carers together to provide support to each other. We work in partnership with local organisations that commission and deliver services for children and young people with SEND, such as Shropshire Council. In doing this we aim to ensure that the decisions that impact on the Shropshire parent carer community are informed by real life experience and to give children and young people with SEND and their families, a real chance to live positive lives.

Shropshire IASS

Shropshire Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS), provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, including health and social care. Support is offered from initial concerns about a possible SEN and disability, through to complex information and advice. Workshops, leaflets, support groups, training and other services are available, as well as 1 to 1 support. Children, young people, and parents / carers of children and young people aged 0 to 25 are supported. Also, Shropshire Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS) can provide an Independent Supporter (an independent person to help you transfer to the new system.