Carers in Craven get access to free digital resources
Did you know, across the UK 5.7 million people are carers, supporting a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill. In North Yorkshire, there are 53,723 unpaid carers.
The most recent census figures show that there are over 13,000 people looking after relatives or friends in Harrogate, almost 8,000 in Selby and over 5,000 in Craven.
According to Carers Resource, many of these people are providing over 50 hours of unpaid care for their loved ones every week.
Being a working carer impacts on all aspects of life, however there is a big impact on work – many carers consider reducing their working hours, or had thought about giving up work altogether.
Support for unpaid carers
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership is a partnership between the local NHS, councils, Healthwatch, hospices, charities, and other organisations and volunteers. They work together to improve the health and wellbeing of people locally. They have teamed up with Carers UK to provide a new digital platform for local people who are unpaid carers.
Having the right information at the right time can make a significant difference to carers and those they look after. Developed with the specialist knowledge of national charity Carers UK and local information, the digital resource for carers provides carers with a wealth of practical, financial and emotional support.
The platform hosts a range of resources, e-learning modules, hands-on guides and tools to help carers manage their caring responsibilities and look after themselves.
How to get free access
Visit carersdigital.org and use code WESTYORKS to create a free account and access digital resources.
Carers UK Survey
We would encourage all local carers to take part in the annual ‘State of Caring’ survey from Carers UK. It is the most extensive survey into unpaid carers’ experiences in the UK. It covers a wide range of topics which helps identify what carers need and what their common issues are.
Share your experiences and have your voice heard.
Take the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SWSJB5C
