Carers Week in Plymouth came this year with added music.
Plymouth City Council, and Caring for Carers – a partnership between Improving Lives Plymouth and Age UK – worked together to ensure the estimated 29,000 carers in Plymouth knew that help is available in the city, and part of this was a week of events between June 11 and 17 including music (performed by local musicians who also happen to be carers) and art sessions, supported by local charities Plymouth Music Zone, Colebrook South West Ltd and Improving Lives Plymouth.
practical resources, advice and information designed to help employers look after staff who are juggling work alongside caring for someone
In addition, the council has recently joined the Employers for Carers scheme, which will help it and a number of other organisations in the city support carers who work for them.
The scheme will provide practical resources, advice and information designed to help employers look after staff who are juggling work alongside caring for someone.
A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.
Young carers are children and young people who provide care and support for loved ones. Support available for young carers in Plymouth includes group sessions at Efford Youth Centre every Tuesday evening.
…cooking, arts, sports, pool, gaming or just the chance to meet and socialise with other young carers
The sessions are free to join but you would need to have been referred by a professional such as your doctor, an educational psychologist, health visitor or your school.
The sessions include fun activities like cooking, arts, sports, pool, gaming or just the chance to meet and socialise with other young carers. To find out what help you can get, email gateway@plymouth.gov.uk or call 01752 668000.
Councillor Ian Tuffin, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care for Plymouth City Council, said:
“Carers do an invaluable job and it is really important that we raise the profile of caring and encourage members of the public to identify themselves as carers to access support, advice and information available to them.”
The theme of this year’s Carers Week, led nationally by Carers UK, was coming together to build communities that support the health and wellbeing of carers. Across the UK there are around 6.5 million people who care for a parent, partner, child or friend.
Improving Lives Plymouth, caring for carers manager Lee Sewrey said:
“This carers week we pledged to facilitate activities and events that provided health and wellbeing benefits for carers and allowed them to have a little ‘me time’.”
Regular events for carers in Plymouth include a number of regular music sessions at Plymouth Music Zone for carers including:
• Every other Monday: 10am to 12pm, Friends Uke-Nited for adult carers who have a little ukulele experience, singing and playing together with a view to performing in community venues.
• Every Monday: 1pm to 2pm, Carefree Choir for adult carers without those they care for, singing in harmony together for a little breathing space.
• Every Tuesday: 10.30am to 11.30am, Sharing and Caring for carers of older and disabled people, singing as a group for much needed respite and laughter.
Call 01752 213690 to find out more about the Plymouth Music Zone events.
Other support available for carers:
• Caring for Carers (Improving Lives Plymouth) contact 01752 201890 or visit www.improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk/our-services/caring-for-carers
• Colebrook South West: Opportunity Knocks Project. Contact 01752 211243 or email OKProject@colebrooksw.org
• Employers for Carers: www.employersforcarers.org
• Plymouth Online Directory (POD): search the POD for information on a range of local support groups. Visit www.plymouthonlinedirectory.com
• Young Carers: information on support for young carers is available on the Plymouth City Council website at www.plymouth.gov.uk/adultcareandhealth/caringotherpeople/helpyoungcarers
