Wales has the highest proportion – at 12% – of carers in the UK and every day 6000 people become carers, but who supports the carers? We met recently with Kevin and Eve from Credu who tell us more about the great work they do to support unpaid carers in Powys.
Who Cares?
A carer is someone who cares or intends to care for a family member or friend with a life limiting illness, disability, mental health condition or who suffers with substance misuse. An adult carer is a person who is aged 18 years old or over and a young carer is under 18 years old.
1 out of 3 of
us will be/have been a Carer in our lifetime.
·
The role can involve a wide variety of support
roles offering practical and emotional support.
·
A Carer may provide around-the-clock support or
for a few hours a week, in their own home or for someone at the other end of a
motorway…
·
The care and support they give is unpaid.
More formally,
a Carer is anyone of any age who supports someone with a health condition or
disability without being paid. There are over 16,000 unpaid Carers in Powys.
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| 16,000 unpaid carers in Powys |
Carers in Wales
Those who look
after a family member or loved one with a health condition and/or disability
are the backbone of our care system. At least 370,000 carers in Wales
(estimated at 683 000 Carers identified during COVID via Carers Wales report).
Unpaid carers
save the state the equivalent of £8.1 billion in Wales each year (this figure
is also likely to have increased during the pandemic)
Wales has the
highest proportion – at 12% – of carers in the UK
Carers across
Wales provide 96% of care and as our loved ones are living longer with illness
or disability, more and more of us will be looking after them. Unpaid carers
save the state the equivalent of £8.1 billion in Wales each year. Wales has the
highest proportion – at 12% – of carers in the UK. Unpaid carers in Wales have
saved £33 million every day of the pandemic.
Every day
6,000 people become carers. Looking after someone can be challenging for some
and for others it can be rewarding.
Young and
Adult Carers have an abundance of strengths and often have to juggle life and
work alongside their caring role! It is vital that Carers feel acknowledged and
supported for the selfless sacrifices they make in supporting the most
vulnerable members of our society.
Carers have rights!
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| Carers have rights. |
In Wales, Young and Adult Carers have rights that are
protected in law. The Social Services and Wellbeing Act ensures that Carers be
entitled to receive social care support. This includes the right to a Carers
Assessment. In Powys, there is a guide
to detail more about advice and support, which may prove useful – visit: www.carers.cymru/post/a-guide-for-unpaid-carers
to access this guide.
Getting Support in Powys
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| Credu - believing in carers |
Credu (which
is pronounced ‘cre-dee’) means believe in Welsh. We believe in Young and Adult
Carers. We are based in Powys and have been supporting carers since 2003.
·
We believe in people: their skills, abilities
and talents, and the resilience they display in everyday life.
·
We believe in the invaluable contributions
carers make to their loved ones and their communities.
·
We believe carers of all ages deserve to thrive
and be able to get the most out of life.
·
We believe no-one needs to do this on their own.
·
We believe in supporting carers by connecting
them with whatever they need to live to their full potential.
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| Make sure you get support & help |
We think carers of all ages
are amazing. We love to listen to you and support you with what is important to
you in a way that works for you, whether you just need some basic information
or if you want to work through some complicated challenges.
Credu’s
support depends on what would work for you and how, but can include:
·
Practical support such as services for the person
you look after / respite / financial support
·
Emotional support / counselling
·
Listening to enable you to work through
challenges and find ways forward that work for you
·
Young and Adult Carers Groups and Events
·
Volunteering and getting involved as a Carers
Champion
·
Courses (e.g. first aid / manual handling /
stress less / sleep easy)
Credu also works alongside partners and professionals to raise awareness of caring and provide information and advice about identifying and supporting Carers.
Getting in touch
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| Here to help |
Website: www.credu.cymru
Make a referral or
self-referral: www.carers.cymru/credureferral
Facebook: Credu Connecting Carers - https://www.facebook.com/creducarers
Twitter:
@CreduCarers - https://twitter.com/CreduCarers
Instagram: @creduconnectingcarers_
- https://www.instagram.com/creduconnectingcarers_/
YouTube: On Being A Carer – short clips of Carer’s
stories told by Young and Adult Carers:
Visit www.carers.cymru/creduevents
to see and register for our upcoming events in Powys.
If you like to receive news &
updates from Credu by email, please feel free to sign
up: https://tinyurl.com/yyg3kfsl - we send out a weekly email with events
happening for Carers. Please check spam folders when signing up.
If you have any questions or enquiries, please call 01597 823800 / email: carers@credu.cymru
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