Hackney pledges to ‘make Carers visible’ for Carers Week 2020
From online meditation sessions to a virtual talent show, Carers across Hackney are getting online for a week of advice and support sessions as part of national Carers Week (8-14 June).
Alongside hosting celebration events for Carers, Cllr Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for adult social care, has also signed the Council up to the Carers Week pledge. This will help move Hackney towards being a Carer friendly borough, which will see the Council working with Carers to get their voices heard and support their wellbeing.
Carers are unpaid and look after family, a partner or friend in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. Carers Week is an annual campaign that highlights the challenges unpaid Carers face and recognises 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.
As a council, we recognise the incredible work that our unpaid Carers do tirelessly, day in day out, to care for family, friends and neighbours who simply couldn't manage without their support. The last few months could not have highlighted more starkly how hugely our unpaid Carers are relied upon and are integral to the good health & wellbeing of the people they are caring for with or without the support of statutory services.
Hackney is committed to improving services for Carers, and to valuing their important role beyond Carers week by working towards making Hackney a truly Carer aware and a Carer friendly borough.
Download the timetable of Carers Week events in Hackney. If you think you may be a Carer, or are a Carer in Hackney and would like more information on the support on offer, including the Carers discount card which has discounts of up to 50% at local leisure centres and shops, then visit www.hackney.gov.uk/carers. You can also call Carers First on 0300 303 1555.
Residents can also download the I Love Hackney Carers poster to display in their windows in support of local carers.
Hackneys Pledge as a part of Carers week 2020
We pledge to make Caring visible in Hackney this Carers Week by:
Working together with our statutory and community partners to offer a range of virtual wellbeing events for Hackney’s unpaid Carers
Inviting young, adult, working and all other unpaid Carers together with Hackney staff to attend a virtual opening event to honour and celebrate the contribution made by our unpaid Carers and to raise awareness
Running workshops with Adult Social Services staff to focus on best practice when supporting families and Carers
Hosting a virtual coffee morning for unpaid Carers (and allies of) within our Hackney workforce as a space to reflect and share
Raising awareness throughout Hackney via all forms of media of the needs, the value and achievements of our unpaid Carers; reaching out to those members of our community who may not recognise themselves as Carers and sending the message to the people of Hackney that Hackney’s unpaid Carers are everyone’s business.