UNPAID carers in Melksham are due to benefit from a new service called Carers Together Wiltshire which brings together a consortium of some of the county’s charities and services.
The service will provide respite and a range of support to adult unpaid carers from the age of 18. It has been commissioned by Wiltshire Council, and is a partnership between Age UK Wiltshire and other local charities including Community First, Alzheimer’s Support, Wiltshire Service Users Network, Citizens Advice Wiltshire and Wessex Community Action.
“Wiltshire has thousands of people who provide help as an unpaid carer to those needing additional support,” says a spokesperson for Wiltshire Council. “The council has a role to ensure those people are provided with respite, support, and opportunities to network with other unpaid carers.
“This will include training, carer cafes and awareness raising in the community for unpaid carers.”
The consortium will also work closely with Wiltshire Council to continue conducting carers’ assessments.
The spokesperson said, “Community First has been awarded the contract for younger adult and young carers from ages five to 25 years old, focusing on support in primary schools and supporting Wiltshire Council with their work with secondary schools and colleges, understanding their rights and what support is available to them and giving them opportunities to carry on doing the things they enjoy – whilst also teaching them key life skills as they grow up.
“Both providers will work together to support carers aged 18 to 25 and family support including parent carers. There is also investment in online support so carers can access training, chats, helpful guides and support at any time.
“There will continue to be a Wiltshire Carer Card which will provide unpaid carers with ID as a carer and record emergency contact details. This will be available as a physical card and a digital app for people’s smartphone, if preferred. Unpaid carers can continue to use the emergency card they already have while they wait for the new card. The new providers will also continue to work closely with hospitals to ensure unpaid carers are supported. Assessments for unpaid carers will continue as normal.”
From 1st April, Carer Support Wiltshire will continue to run its services independently of the council including carer cafés, the Hear to Talk service, family support and activities, carer wellbeing workshops, young carer activities, carer grants and their Bereavement Help Points.
The unpaid carers contract is jointly funded by Wiltshire Council and BSW ICB.
Chief executive officer of Age UK, Sarah Cardy, said, “We are looking forward to working in partnership with Wiltshire Council, health services and voluntary sector colleagues to provide much needed support to unpaid carers. We will have a dedicated team of people to walk alongside unpaid carers to help with the many challenges they face. Our partnership approach will provide easy access to early support to help improve the lives of unpaid carers.”
Cabinet member for Adult Social Care said, “We want to also thank Carer Support Wiltshire for the valuable work they have carried out with our unpaid carers over the years and wish them well in the good work they continue to do across the southwest.”
