County council pledges more support for carers in West Sussex

West Sussex County Council is pledging to give more support to carers.
West Sussex County CouncilWest Sussex County Council
West Sussex County Council

The council is making the commitment as part of Carers Week 2015, a nationwide campaign run by Carers UK which runs from Monday June 8 to Sunday June 14.

The week aims to highlight the challenges carers face and to recognise the contribution they make to families and communities across the UK.

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A number of events will be run across West Sussex from group meetings for carers to coffee mornings and information stands.

Each year Carers UK host a ‘Pledge Wall’, encouraging people to post messages of support explaining what they will do to support carers.

West Sussex County Council has signed up – saying ‘we pledge to continuously innovate and improve the support available to carers also to identify and support an extra 2,000 carers in West Sussex who are ‘hidden’ and not receiving help and information that might support their health and wellbeing.’

Hidden carers are people who carry out caring responsibilities but do not necessarily recognise themselves as being ‘carers’.

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They might be people who are looking after elderly, sick or vulnerable relatives or neighbours either at home, or by helping with housework, shopping or other day-to-day tasks and may not realise they are entitled to support.

Peter Catchpole (Con, Holbrook), WSCC’s cabinet member for adult social care and health, has also made a pledge to ‘raise awareness of carers and of the contribution that they make in West Sussex, not just during Carers Week but throughout the whole year. I will also continue promoting the information and advice available to carers to ensure that they are supported in their caring role’.

He said: “Carers play a vital role in looking after some of our most vulnerable residents and I know I speak for all of my colleagues when I say thank you to them for all that they do.

“They do a tremendous job, which can be extremely stressful. That’s why it’s important that we recognise what they do and make sure they are getting the support that they need.

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“They are not alone – there is lots of information available at Carers Support West Sussex about what is available.”

To find out more visit the website or call Carers Support West Sussex on 0300 0288888.

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