The term ‘unpaid carer’ refers to anyone who provides a level of care for friends or family members because of illness, mental health conditions, disabilities, addictions and so on, and who doesn’t get paid for the help they provide.
In many instances, unpaid carers do not even identify themselves as such, which means they’re far less likely to seek avenues of support for themselves, which can put their own mental and emotional health and wellbeing at risk.
In Essex, it’s estimated that there are at least 125,000 people providing unpaid care but it’s likely that the true number is significantly higher than this, InYourArea reports.
To help ensure that carers receive the support they need, Essex County Council has teamed up with Mobilise, a carer-led digital community, that will see known unpaid carers engaged to help identify other people who are currently not accessing support, with free on-demand services available to all Essex-based carers.
The digital support services include an online peer community where fellow carers can come together to share advice and experiences, as well as self-service tools detailing the different forms of support available, including the Carer’s Allowance.
Additionally, tailormade support guides will be available, covering everything from managing health and wellbeing while providing care to how to balance care provision with a full-time job.
Suzanne Bourne, co-founder and head of carer support at Mobilise, was quoted by the news source as saying: “An increasing number of us are taking on caring responsibilities, with one million additional carers set to emerge in the UK over the next ten years. The reality of caring will look different for everyone.
“But our goal is to provide support, community and guidance to ensure no carer ever feels alone. Created by carers for carers, our community will give carers in Essex access to a powerful peer support network (the largest of its kind) and 24/7 advice on everything from Carer’s Allowance to looking after their own wellbeing.”
Help for carers
Caring comes in many forms, whether it’s doing the grocery shopping and helping out with keeping appointments or whether it’s full-time personal care. This means that the requisite help and support will be entirely individual, so knowing what support is out there can make a big difference to how well you navigate life as a carer.
The support you need may well change over time, covering everything from emotional and financial help to condition-specific support or practical guidance and assistance.
There are lots of carer support groups out there that you can attend in person, or you can find these online as well. It can often be easier to talk about your thoughts and feelings with people you don’t know rather than friends and family – but don’t discount those closest to you, either, as they may well be able to help.
And, of course, counsellors and therapists can prove very beneficial if you’re feeling overwhelmed. The Counselling Directory is a good place to go if you do think you need professional support.
