Carers Week 2021 and Somerset Carers Service
Carers Week 2021 - Make Caring Visible and Valued
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.
It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
This year, carers across the country are continuing to face new challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.
They need to be recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for all they are doing, and provided with information, support and understanding. So during Carers Week, we're coming together to help Make Caring Visible and Valued.
Would you like to support a carer by volunteering at a carers support group?
Spark Somerset are proud to support the Somerset Carers Service, a free service which provides much-needed support to unpaid carers in Somerset.
Volunteer at your local carers support group
SOMERSET CARERS SERVICE support groups give carers an opportunity to take a much-needed break from caring, meet other carers, and get practical advice and support.
Becoming a Carers Group Volunteer is a great opportunity to spend time with some fantastic people who spend much of their time caring for others. Whilst caring can be very rewarding, it can also be overwhelming at times, and by giving just a couple of hours of your time each month, you could help provide the vital support that carers need.
The groups are lead by fully-trained Carers Agents, but they need a little help to ensure the sessions run smoothly. You could help with a variety of tasks, from meeting and greeting and serving refreshments, to chatting with attendees and supporting the group leader.
Face-to-face groups are currently on hold, but we are still recruiting so that we're ready for when they are able to resume. You can find out more and sign up HERE.