Carers Week is an annual campaign, this year running from 8th June – 14th June, that raises awareness of caring, highlights the challenges faced by unpaid carers, and recognises the vital contribution they make to families and communities across the UK.
This year’s theme, Building Carer Friendly Communities, is all about creating places and spaces that focus on supporting carers. Whether it be services, community groups, carer focussed spaces and places, it’s about about carers feeling recognised, understood and valued. To make sure that carers have somewhere to go where they can be cared for, made up of people who:
When communities work together, we can make sure that carers have fairer opportunities and can lead better lives.
Unpaid carers are the backbone of our communities. In financial terms, the care they provide is equivalent to the entire budget of the NHS — that’s how vital they are. The UK’s almost 6 million unpaid carers, although providing essential care, are often overlooked and undervalued, even unsupported, in the challenges they face on a daily basis.
Challenges that affect their own health, education and career prospects, livelihood, relationships, hopes and personal aspirations. Carer friendly communities can help to change this,
Progress has been made but we can all do more to ensure every community is carer friendly. Resources for learning about the progress of carer friendly communities can be found using the buttons below.
Wherever carers are, we can create friendly communities. Whether that be the places they work, study, or spend lots of time, i.e., doctor’s waiting rooms, pharmacies, or supermarkets, the smallest of changes can make the biggest of differences to carers’ lives.
In the community: sports clubs, faith groups, community sessions and local organisations, all could create carer friendly events and opportunities to help them feel connected.
Businesses: offering flexibility or priority access for carers could help to ease everyday struggles; making complex and demanding tasks less time-consuming and draining.
Education: schools, colleges and universities could all help to identify young and young adult carers, helping them to reach their education and career goals. Ensuring any that progress from young to adult carers have life-long support in the caring journey.
Health: GPs, pharmacies, hospitals and health services could all help to identify unpaid carers by raising awareness of their roles. Offering carers further support and signposting to additional support.
Work and Employers: flexible working for carers, assisting them to stay in employment while also supporting them in their important care roles, reduces costs for the business and eases tension and stress for employed carers.
Whether your community is a parish, village, town or a city, carer friendly communities can help all of us to connect with the carers in our lives. Progress has been made but we can do so much more to grow our carer friendly communities.
Find out how you can help to build the future of carer friendly communities:
Join us for the fun and raising awareness! Use our calendar below to see what we’ve got coming. Join us for our annual Carers Charity Walk around the beautiful Packington Hall. You can sign up, raise donations for unpaid carers, and have a family walk in the sunshine while connecting with nature.
We are proud and lucky that we once again have UB Healthcare sponsoring our charity walk this year. We have worked with UB Healthcare for several years, and our combined forces have been working to raise awareness of, as well as increase the support offered to, unpaid carers.
Learn more about UB Healthcare and some of the work we’ve done together, and don’t forget to download the Carers Charity Walk flyer too, using the buttons below.
Find out what’s coming this Carer’s Week!
We’ve got lots planned and a little something for everyone to get involved with. Whether you’re looking for fun, respite, socialising or support, we’ve got something for you!
Join us to find out more about Bridgit, our digital support service for carers, and how it can support you in your caring role.
Booking Essential — Call us to book your place: 0121 788 1143
Location: Carers Trust Solihull, B91 1QY
Time: 11AM – 12.15PM
We will holding an information strand for any carers or members of the public who would like more information about our service.
Location: Riverside Family Hub, B37 5DP
Arrival Time: 10AM – 11.30AM
Join us to celebrate Carers Week with some cake a cuppa. Meet other carers and find out what support is available in Solihull.
No booking required.
Location: Two Mugs Cafe, B90 2EH
Time: 10AM – 11.30PM
We will be at Marie Curie Hospice raising awareness of our service and sharing what support we offer to carers.
Location: Marie Curie Hospice, B91 2PQ
Arrival Time: 10AM – 11.30AM
Enjoy a free and friendly game of badminton with other carers! All equipment will be provided and all levels of fitness are welcome. Staff will be there to facilitate.
Booking Essential — Call us to book your place: 0121 788 1143
Location: North Solihull Sports Centre, B37 5LA
Time: 10AM – 12PM
Enjoy a free and friendly game of badminton with other carers! All equipment will be provided and all levels of fitness are welcome. Staff will be there to facilitate.
Booking Essential — Call us to book your place: 0121 788 1143
Location: Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, B91 1NB
Time: 12PM – 2PM
Join us for a 4 mile walk around the beautiful grounds of Packington Estate. We also have a shorter 3/4 mile walk suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Booking Essential — Use the button below to book your place.
Location: St James Church, Packington Hall, CV7 7HF (access via East gate). If you are using What3Words follow: traps.scores.drill
Time: 9.30AM
Please arrive in enough time to register and donate anything you can before the walk begins at 10AM
Cost: Free but donations are welcome
We are excited to share that Bridgit Care, a new digital platform designed to support unpaid carers, has officially launched!
Caring for someone can be challenging, and we know that carers often need quick, reliable advice and resources at a time that is right for them. Bridgit Care is an online platform that has been developed to make life easier for carers, offering them direct access to personalised support, practical tools, and local services – all in one place.
The online platform is designed to be simple, user-friendly, and available 24/7, allowing carers to get the help they need whenever it’s most convenient for them.
You are free to use the below posters, flyers and leaflets in your place of business, education, health & social care, community hall — anywhere — to help hidden carers be seen.
All age posters: young carer, young adult carer, adult carer, and parent carer.
Suitable for all locations in the public eye, or high-traffic areas within your business/organisation/waiting rooms/schools/educational settings.
Most unpaid carers don’t realise they are carers. Helping them to identify themselves is the first and most difficult step to receiving the support they need.
Learn about how we help all unpaid carers using the buttons below:
All age posters Information leaflets. They work great as supplements with the above Support Posters.
These are multiple page leaflets, which can be printed professionally or by yourself and then stapled together for easy distribution.
Most unpaid carers don’t realise they are carers. Helping them to identify themselves is the first and most difficult step to receiving the support they need.
Single page flyer’s for our Peer Mentoring Services, for young carers and young adult carers.
Perfect for schools and educational settings. Not only for known young and young adult carers to become our mentors, but also for other young people to learn more and be supported by a peer mentor. They also open the door to more conversations about what makes a young and young adult carer, allowing the approximate 1 in 10 pupils who are unpaid carers to find the support they need.
“Become a peer mentor and help show the young carers how you did it and share your experiences with them. You know how tough it can be and how being isolated from friends, school, and social life can have such a damaging effect on your health. Some of you may have even had your our mentor when you were a young carer, and they helped you learn, cope, manage, and get through those tough times. Now the next generation of young carers are looking for that same help and only you have the ‘right stuff’ to make that happen.
When you join and become a peer mentor you will receive all the training you need to help you express everything you know, to help as many young carers as you can. Becoming a peer mentor will provide you with an amazing opportunity to learn some new skills for yourself too. All of which can be added to your record of achievements, such as your CV, to really show people just how amazing you are and the wide array of talents you have.”
Learn more and join our Peer Mentoring Service by using the button below.
Contingency plan, back-up plan, emergency plan, “What if” plan—no matter what it’s called, all unpaid carers should have a plan in place for those “what if…” moments.
Not only does it mean those you care for are still supported should you be unable to reach them, it also gives you peace of mind, knowing that they are still cared for should an emergency arise. Use our below resources to help you create your own contingency plan.
We have templates for you to download and fill in, or you can use our Contingency Plan Builder to have a completed plan sent to your email, for easy downloads and sharing.
You can this information and more using our dedciated “Your Guide to Carer’s Contingency Planning”.
We also have resources regarding Continuing Healthcare (CHC) from the NHS, to help you receive funding and support for healthcare needs.
Series of multiple page leaflets and fundraising packs, dense with information, sponsorship and Gift Aid forms, to help you raise funds and awareness for us, so we can continue to go above and beyond for our unpaid carers.
There are many ways to support our work with carers. You can make a one off donation, become a regular donor or run your own fundraising campaigns. You can volunteer your time with us to work behind the scenes or with carers directly. Volunteering areas include administration; befriending/mentoring carers; fundraising; sessional work; helping with events, activities or marketing. This is not an exhaustive list, volunteer roles are discussed and agreed upon to suit the needs of all involved.
Single page posters designed to be placed in the your business/organisation/place of work.
UB Healthcare and the Carers Trust Solihull work together to support the hidden carers in the workplace, and we’re inviting businesses to join us in this vital mission. Hidden carers often juggle demanding responsibilities without recognition or support, especially in the workplace.
Carers Trust Solihull offers invaluable support, from advice on carers’ rights to guidance on accessing essential services.
Let’s empower hidden carers to speak up, know their rights, and receive the support they deserve. Together, we can make a difference for those who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
Carers in Solihull registered with our service will receive a Carers Identity Card. This card is a handy tool for carers and has 3 main functions:
You can find our concessions list using the button below.
We encourage carers to keep their card in the purse or wallet as this can be a useful tool should you be in an emergency. You can use this for telephone numbers of whom to contact in an emergency and to alert others you are caring for someone who may need help back at home.
You can learn more about the importance and use of your Carers Card by using Your Guide to Carers’ Cards
Please Note: As much as we aim to keep our concession lists up to date, we encourage carers to always check concessions in advance to avoid disappointment. If you know of any changes to current concessions or others not noted, please let us know.
Getting the right information at the right time can make caring a lot easier. Our Carer Practioners have specialised knowledge to help and guide you on your caring journey.
We also offer a wide range of online guides carer guides, support pieces, tips and digital support you can find by using the buttons below.
We’re proud to announce we have partnered with Bridgit Care to create our digital carer service: Bridgit. Available 24/7 and completely free, it is designed specifically for unpaid carers, to support you at every step in your caring role. Our digital agents are specialists in their fields and are waiting to guide you, support you, or even chat with you!
A listening ear when you need one, you can call us on 0121 788 1143 and speak to one of the team.
Carers face many challenges, including isolation, exhaustion, and a wide range of emotions that can sometimes feel overwhelming. While talking to a trusted friend or family member can be helpful, it’s often easier and sometimes more effective to speak with someone outside your immediate circle.
We’re here to offer you the opportunity to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through and can support you with the challenges you face.
It is important for carers to take a break from caring. We offer a wide range of events and activities that offer respite opportunities for carers, such as:
Day Trips – local attractions / theatre / family beach days
Relaxation Sessions – free relaxation appointments for carers including massage, Reiki and Reflexology
Vouchers – opportunities to receive a cinema or eat out voucher to use independently for a break.
Monthly meet ups – Where carers join us for a cuppa and chat.
On many of our day trips, the person you care for can come along with you (subject to age and capability).
You can find out what’s on and register your interest using our What’s On calendar using the button below. You can also subscribe to our newsletters to stay up-to-date with our latest news and outings.
We offer a variety of free training workshops to help carers to feel confident and supported in their caring role. Some of our sessions include:
Our sessions are held face to face and online, check out our What’s On page using the button below, to find out what sessions we have coming up.
Caring can be isolating, and many carers feel the benefit from peer support or talking to others who understand but are not linked to you or your caring situation (for example family or friends).
Our Befrienders are friendly and non-judgmental, ready to listen and help.
This service is an opportunity for you to regularly check in with a matched volunteer to discuss anything on your mind. Befrienders can help you achieve personal goals, source local activities and help navigate services. They can also support you to build confidence and skills or give you the time to be heard.
If you are interested in our befriending service, please contact centre@solihullcarers.org by using the button below.
We have a variety of online resources to help support you in your caring role, whether you are new to caring or have been caring for a while, there is something useful for everyone.
Bridgit — Digital Carer Service: Available 24/7 and completely free, it is designed specifically for unpaid carers, to support you at every step in your caring role. Our digital agents are specialists in their fields and are waiting to guide you, support you, or even chat with you, plus so much more.
Carers Essential Guides: These guides cover the basics and important topics we think every carer should know about.
Blogs and News: Find out the latest news for carers and useful blogs covering a range of topics.
Videos: We have a range of informative videos, some of carers sharing their experiences, professionals advising on benefits, energy costs, health, legal matters and awareness campaigns such as Carers Rights Day
Podcast: Our very own podcast ‘Carers Talk’, where we talk to professionals about carers topics, and other unpaid carers share their experiences, stories, tips and advice. It’s full of useful information we think is important for carers to know.
E-learning: We have created a contingency planning e-learning tool to help you build your own emergency plan. You can do this at your own time in the comfort of your own home.
