Posted on: 31 May 2019
West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership is proud to promote a host of events taking place next week to connect carers to their communities in Carers Week 2019 (10-16 June). The events are part of a raft of support delivered by local partners and community organisations across the area.
There are an estimated 260,000 unpaid carers living in West Yorkshire and Harrogate and among this figure are many children and young people who care for parents with long-term health conditions.
Many don’t necessarily identify with the word ‘carer’ and, as a result, may be unaware of the support that is available for them.
Caring without the right information and support can impact on all aspects of a carer’s life, from relationships and health to finances and work. Therefore knowing about and being able to access the necessary information, training and support is crucial for carers to be able to take care of their own wellbeing – as well as that of the person they look after.
West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership recognise that carers are significant in delivering and supporting health and care. That is why the Partnership is working on initiatives like identifying young carers, connecting GPs with carers’ support organisations and signing hospitals up to John’s campaign (which helps carers of people living with dementia), which helps carers in our hospitals. We also want to raise the profile of the valuable support they give locally whilst sharing the excellent work taking place across the whole of the area – and most importantly ensure that this is applied for all carers no matter where they live in West Yorkshire and Harrogate. Sharing and spreading good practice and learning is a priority for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership.
As part of Carers Week 2019, many events are taking place across Bradford District and Craven; Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.
For example: Carers’ Resource, which covers the Bradford district, Craven and Harrogate, will hold a bucket collection at the Bradford Bulls versus Batley Bulldogs rugby league game on 9 June, while students at Craven College are kindly offering a free haircut and blow dry to carers. All the charity’s Carers Week events are listed in its latest Choices magazine, which can be downloaded here.
Carers Leeds will be having a cinema trip and coach trip to Scarborough alongside information and self-care sessions as part of a range of activities available to view here.
In Kirklees, the hashtag #Kirkleesthinkcarers is being used to promote a number of information events which will be taking place.
Carers Wakefield & District is holding a Health and Wellbeing Event including a Mindfulness and relaxation workshop.
Calderdale Carers are having a party on 14 June which will include music refreshments and complementary therapies. More details can be found here.
West Yorkshire and Harrogate has been identified as one of 12 regions to work in partnership with NHS England to develop an approach to better support unpaid carers.
Rob Webster, CEO for South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust and CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate (WY&H) Health and Care Partnership, said:
“Many carers are ‘hidden’ and provide the majority of their care without any formal support. Carers Week is an opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution that unpaid carers make across the area day in day out, 365 days a year. The selfless nature of carers often means that their own wellbeing may not be their first concern and they are more likely to put their own health second. Working together across the Partnership to support all carers is therefore a priority to us all”.
Fatima Khan-Shah, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Carer Programme Lead said:
“If you are a carer living in West Yorkshire or Harrogate, please get in touch with your local carers organisation to find out what events and activities are taking place as part of Carers Week and beyond. Many Carers have found connecting with these specialist organisations useful and it is a good opportunity to find out what support is out there for you in your local area. Organisations like these are crucial in supporting carers with the challenges and complexities of their caring role”.
You can help get carers connected in their communities by pledging your support for Carers Week, downloading Carers Week resources, following Carers Week on Twitter and liking the Carers Week Facebook page.