Carers Rights Day 2019

The second in a series of career events to support young carers was held on Thursday as part of raising awareness for Carers Right Day. The event included young carers from across Leeds and Wakefield and builds on the success of the first event held in Kirklees earlier this year. The event, called ‘Couldn’t Care Less’, aim to show young carers how their skills can be transferred into exciting and varied roles in the health and care sector, supported by role models from across local business and the NHS.  The event was also attended by young adult carers who shared their life experiences and reflections in how they made a successful transition from being a young carer to an adult carer.

There are around 260,000 carers living across West Yorkshire and Harrogate in Bradford, Airedale and Craven; Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. This number includes thousands of young carers taking on a caring role from as early as six years old.  Often they are caring for parents who have long-term health conditions, mental health difficulties or experience alcohol and substance misuse.

To raise awareness of Carers Right Day, partners from across the area have pledged their support for carers to share good practice and learning through a series of videos, and the Carers programme have been tweeting throughout the day. A lot of great work already takes place in our six local places, from partners working with voluntary and community organisations to support carers in their local areas.

In Kirklees, Carers Count delivered drop in sessions across Batley, Huddersfield where carers can discuss their rights in relation to their caring role.

Carers Leeds held a ‘Pop Up Drop By ‘ gazebo in Dortmund Square, central Leeds where they had a presence all day. Anyone needing further support was directed to Carers Leeds offices, 2 minutes around the corner.

Calderdale’s Making Space and Calderdale Carers held a joint event at The Neighbourhood Centre, Queens Road in Halifax where there were information stands, pampering sessions, complimentary therapies and a buffet lunch.

Carers Wakefield & District held their AGM and a ‘Carer Welfare’ event at Sandal Rugby Club, Sandal, Wakefield. The event encouraged carers to focus on themselves, their own health and wellbeing and their aspirations for the future. The event included presentations around mental health, physical activity, eye health, smoking, education and employment.

Across Bradford, Harrogate and Craven, Carers Resource held a number of events including a Carer, Craft and Chat in Manningham and Parent Carer Coffee and Cake Drop-in at Skipton, BD23 1PP, and a Dancing for Wellbeing session in Darley.