Newham celebrates ‘Carers Rights Day’

Newham council is celebrating the amazing job that carers do.

We are supporting the most vulnerable members of our community and showcasing the support that is available to them with a drop in session in Stratford.Carers Rights Day is an annual event, bringing together organisations across the UK to help carers in their local community find out how to get the help and support they are entitled to. This year the campaign’s focus is the rights that unpaid carers have.

Newham has more than 24,000 unpaid carers, including 1,204 young carers, according to census records. A carer is anyone who provides unpaid support to a relative, partner, child or friend due to illness, disability, frailty, a mental health condition or substance misuse problem.

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Carers Rights Day is important as it helps carers understand their rights as well as showing how to access the support that is available.

“In Newham we have thousands of unpaid carers who have taken on caring responsibilities for others. The impact of the pandemic is also still being felt by many of our carers.

“This is why, ensuring carers are aware of their rights, and that they know where to get help and support, is essential.”

The Newham website has lots of information for carers including information from our partners Mobilise and Carers First Newham.

Mobilise is working in partnership with Newham Council, focusing on the identification and online support of unpaid carers in Newham. Carers First Newham offers personalised information and support to carers, online, by phone and face-to-face in the local community.

The Carers First Newham Team will be holding a drop-in event on Thursday 25 November at Stratford Advice Arcade, 107-109 The Grove, London E15 1HP, from 10am to 3pm.

At the event, you’ll be able to find out what local support is available for carers. The following topics will also be covered on the day:

  • Carers Emergency Card (Carers First)
  • Carers First Services
  • Young Carers Service
  • Emergency Planning

Also in attendance will be:

  • Newham New Deal Partnership (Dementia Services)
  • Our Newham Money
  • Shelter
  • Newham Young Carers Service
  • Better Together (Supported Accommodation)

There is no need to register and refreshments will be available.

Mobilise will be running events online throughout the day. More information can be found on the Mobilise website.

Newham Council launched its Carers Strategy this year to support carers. Between 2019 - 2020, we spoke to 500 carers to understand more about how we could improve carers support services in Newham. Using this feedback, and in partnership with our partners across Health and the Voluntary & Community Sector we have developed a new, multi-agency strategy to support Carers of all ages, from 5 years old onwards.

Published: 24 Nov 2021