7 June 2021

Today marks the start of Carers Week for 2021, an opportunity for us to celebrate and support our carers in CNWL and throughout the UK.

We’re coming together under the theme ‘Make Caring Visible and Valued’, recognising carers for the difficulties they are experiencing, respecting the contribution carers make to their families and local communities as well as providing information, support and understanding.

According to NHS Employers one in eight of the work-force are working carers and we know that a great many of our staff are carers in their personal lives. A question in the most recent NHS staff survey has found that one in three of the health service’s employees is an unpaid carer.

Carers across the country are continuing to face new challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with many taking on more responsibilities and facing even more difficult circumstances. Because they do not live together, many carers have to forgo seeing the person they would normally support and care for, their visits to people in hospital have been curtailed and they have been isolated from their usual support networks.

Surveys by Carers UK tell us that 72% of carers suffered mental ill health as a result of caring and 61% said they had suffered with their physical health as a result of caring. 

Elaine Singaram, Committee Member with CNWL’s Carers at Work Staff Network (CAW) says:

“Carers are often an invisible or forgotten group and it is important to acknowledge and recognise the important role and contribution they make - not just to their relative or loved one but to the wider society.

“Carers Week shines a light on carers and the fact they have support needs too. It also helps to raise their profile at all levels. Often carers do not see themselves as carers because they provide that support willingly and this is about saying we do see you and you are valued. A little bit of acknowledgement goes a long way!”

The CAW Network is run by staff who are carers themselves, and they welcome you in any capacity. The Network has almost 400 members and many allies, and they offer supportive information, facilitated diagnosis-specific education sessions to support our staff carers as well as a local ‘Champions’ scheme.

Elaine continues:

“I attended a Carers Day event and was struck by how supportive and welcoming the Co-Chairs Sian and Sarah were, and I felt inspired by all those lovely unpaid carers who shared their stories. I was going through a particularly stressful period as a carer myself and I wanted to be able to give support to others just as I had received very welcome support from the Network.”

The CAW has organised a series of events for the week, including a virtual tea party and quiz. You can see the full programme of events in the weekly bulletin.

If you are interested in joining the CAW network, attending events or seeking information and support please email: cnw-tr.carers.cnwl@nhs.net.

And don’t forget about our Check in & Chat service, which provides extra listening support to unpaid carers using weekly phone calls. These calls help reduce the health-harming impacts of loneliness and isolation, and the volunteers can signpost to support networks within the local community and raise concerns where necessary.

If you think an unpaid carer may benefit from accessing Check in & Chat, please complete this referral form and send to cnwl.check-inandchat@nhs.net.