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Join our Carer Voice to speak up and speak out for unpaid carers.
Campaign With Carers In Bedfordshire
Speak Up & Speak Out For Carers
One in 5 of us will be, at some point, a Carer, yet Carers are often invisible in our communities. They feel isolated and put their own health and wellbeing last.
We want to prevent care breakdown.
Carers play a substantial and vital role in meeting social care needs across Bedfordshire and with the rise of ‘virtual wards’ are likely to be increasingly relied upon to provide healthcare services too.
The care they provide has enormous value, both for the people they care for and for wider society. In Bedfordshire we estimate that the 55,000 carers save over £1 Billion – yes, £1 billion.
Carers Grant Bedfordshire
Our Campaigns
Campaign 1
Every Carer Is Identified At The First Opportunity By Their GP
Many Carers simply do not recognise themselves as Carers until they have been caring for quite some time.
Carers UK found that half of all Carers (51%) took over a year to recognise their caring role, with over a third (36%) taking over three years to recognise themselves as a Carer.
Why does this matter?
Self-identifying as a Carer is the first step to recognising they have needs themselves and the first step in preventing Carer breakdown.
We believe that the first point that Carers will recognise themselves in a caring role is when they speak to a professional regarding the person they support.
GPs are often the foremost professional who can recognise that a Carer is in front of them. They need the tools to do that and to offer support. At the moment, very few surgeries even know whether their patients are also Carers.
What are we calling for?
We want all surgeries to use a system tool to easily identify Carers in their practice so that they can offer them support.
What You Can Do:
- Tell your GP you are a carer, and ask what help they can give you
- Ask your surgery if they use the text service to reach carers
- Join your surgery Patient Participation Group to advocate for carers
What You Can Do:
- Rate the respite service that you use on the CQC website
- Get a Carers Assessment and be honest about the demands of your caring role
Campaign 2
Better Respite Provision
Carers are exhausted – they need a break before they suffer breakdown.
It’s the number one topic Carers raise with us.
Why does this matter?
Everyone needs to recharge their batteries but Carers don’t get a break. Sometimes all they want is a few hours a week. The occasional day trip or weekend away to see others, relax. The idea of a holiday, with or without the person they care for, is a luxury.
What are we calling for?
Respite provision locally and nationally is not suited to the needs of Carers. They want care for their family member which is person-centred, high quality and affordable.
Sitting vouchers are a help but often just a sticking plaster.
We are actively seeking alternative models of respite care.
Campaign 3
Systems That Work Better For Carers
Many Carers experience great satisfaction from their role yet rely on services and support systems to help them maintain that role for as long as they choose.
Carers complain that some of those services don’t listen to them, are not integrated with each other or tailored to them and their family.
They feel undervalued when their feedback does not lead to change.
Why does this matter?
Policies and services designed with direct input from Carers are more likely to be effective. By understanding the intricacies of their experiences, the system can be better shaped and designed to support the needs that matter to Carers most.
What are we calling for?
We want Carers to be heard and to help shape a system that works better for them.
We are working to amplify the Carers voice to influence systems so they are heard by the right people at the right time.
What You Can Do:
- Give your feedback - good and bad - to service providers from your perspective as a carer
- Read about national carer campaigns
- Sign petitions
- Talk to your local councillor or MP about services
- Join your local Healthwatch
Campaign With Carers In Bedfordshire
How You Can Get Involved
Campaigning with us means amplifying your voice.
Join Carer Voice to speak up and speak out for unpaid Carers.
If you only have one minute – sign up to Carer Voice.
If you have more time – share your story with us so we can influence service provision for carers across Bedfordshire and beyond.
If you have a little bit longer – read about our Carer Panel and its work.
Share your story:
Let other Carers know they are not alone. Give service providers the real inside story so they can shape their services to work better for Carers and their families.
You can share your story in our magazine, be a guest on our podcast, or appear in one of our videos. If you want to share your story, let us know by clicking the button below.
Register With Us
By registering with us as a carer you will get access to a whole range of services, including advice, information, access to our groups, events and carers grants.
Need To Talk To Someone?
You can book a call with one of our support workers and talk to them about any of your concerns.
