Carers week 2020: Campaign to make caring visible

There are over 68,000 people who are carers in East Sussex and around 6.5 million people in the UK.

They are looking after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness or who needs extra help as they grow older.

What’s more, three out of five of us will become a carer at some point in our lives.

Caring impacts on all aspect of life from relationships and health to finances and work.

As carers are experiencing even more challenging circumstances this year, it is vitally important that everyone recognises the contribution that carers make to their local communities, but that also connect them to support to help them manage their own health and wellbeing.

The theme for Carers Week 2020 is ‘making caring visible’.

Eastbourne charity Care for the Carers is highlighting the role of unpaid carers this June.

Carers and their friends and family, partner organisations and local businesses can all get involved to recognise carers and show support.

Alannah is a young adult carer in Hastings. Her brother has Aspergers Syndrome and her father has a spinal condition.

She said: “My mum is self isolating; she has asthma. I am the only one leaving the house to go to the shops as we can’t get food by delivery. I am a key worker in a nursery, so I have to be extra careful that when I do go to the shops or come home from work, I am not bringing any germs into the house. There is a lot of disinfecting going on.”

Tina from Bexhill on Sea said: “I haven’t had any work now since March which is financially difficult.

“We never did get a preferential delivery slot for my mum even though she received a letter from her doctor telling her she was vulnerable.

“I have been out for exercise but am very conscious and a little scared of other people getting too close to me. I am worried about my mum getting the virus as she would likely not survive it as she has lung and heart conditions. Some people do not pay any attention to social distancing and this worries me.”

Care for the Carers is an independent charity. It has been supporting and representing unpaid carers in East Sussex since 1989.

As well as emotional support and advice, both online and face to face, its team of staff and volunteers also provides practical advice.

Charlotte, 19, lives in Eastbourne. As a young adult carer looking after her mum, she is finding it difficult caring and working full time from home.

She said: “I have to administer pain relief to my mum due to extreme pain she feels on a daily basis. You’re watching someone deteriorate in front of you, every minute of every day. That can be a big struggle for someone of my age.”

Seer lives in Lewes her mother has multiple illnesses and if she did contract coronavirus, she would not survive.

Seer said: “It’s a really difficult time and I am terrified for my mum. The best thing to come out of this situation is that I’ve realised how much support is out there if I just ask.”

Seer has a message for other carers. “Ask for someone to be there for you because you are so important. All the work that you are doing for the person you care for is incredible, and you need to know that it is appreciated. Ask for help when you need it, because the help is there.”

The charity also runs support groups, training and events across the county.

Jennifer Twist, chief executive at the charity, said: “Many carers see themselves as simply ‘doing the right thing’, and don’t realise that there is support out there.

“Looking after a relative or friend is often hugely rewarding, but can be stressful, isolating, and can affect your own wellbeing and livelihood.”

“The Coronavirus has affected carers disproportionately – many of us have struggled with the lockdown, but for carers this is on top of the day to day challenges of caring.

“Lots of people are managing complex caring roles behind closed doors, and the pressure and emotional impact takes its toll.”

“We’re shining a light on the huge contribution to society local carers make this Carers Week.

“Please join us and help Make Caring Visible by getting involved on social media, pledging on the Carers Week website and spreading the word.

“We also want all carers in East Sussex to know that we are here to help. Please do get in touch with us for information, support, or to connect with other carers.”

One event taking place is:

Join artist and arts and wellbeing facilitator Ali Winstanley for a Zoom Arts and Wellbeing session from 2-3.15pm on Wednesday, June 10. We will be using any materials you have to hand (paint, pencil crayons, torn up magazines) to create simple artworks of flowers. Bring along any flowers picked from the wild to create collages, paintings, drawings or cameraphone pictures in a relaxed and friendly group. No previous art experience required! The session will be conducted via the Zoom platform and a link will be sent out to all participants. Please email [email protected] with any queries and to register.

Further information on Carers Week and how to get involved is at cftc.org.uk

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.