Making unpaid carers visible in Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot Council is inviting residents to join in this year’s Carers Week (June 8th – 14th) campaign to recognise the vital contribution made by unpaid carers.

The council is calling for as many people as possible to join in the ‘Making Carers Visible’ campaign by sharing its messages to help raise awareness for those with a caring responsibility, including young carers. The hashtag for the campaign is #CarersWeek.

Councillor Peter Richards, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health, said: “As a council, we recognise the incredible work that unpaid carers do to care for their family, friends and neighbours who simply couldn’t manage without their support.

“The last few months will have been particularly challenging for carers due to the coronavirus outbreak but our appreciation is greater than ever.

“We have approximately 20,000 unpaid carers in Neath Port Talbot, and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for everything you do.”

To support the campaign, Neath Port Talbot Carers Service and Swansea Carers Centre are teaming up to host a series of virtual activities including drop-in meetings on Zoom, quizzes, bingo games, wellness sessions, singalongs and lots more.

To view the full list of activities planned during Carers Week and to book yourself onto Zoom activities, go onto the NPT Carers Service on Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nptcarers , website: www.nptcarers.co.uk or e-mail information@nptcarers.org.uk .

Dr Edward Roberts, the Chair of Neath Port Talbot Carers Service said: “Neath Port Talbot Carers Service continue to provide carers with support in these difficult times.”

“The pressure on carers are greater than ever and they will not only need support now, but sustainable support going forward as the consequences of the pandemic will be felt long into the future.

“Carers are helping to relieve pressures put on public services and the NHS by the ongoing care they provide.  We wish to continue to work in a collaborative way with all providers and sectors to support carers the best way we can.

“We can tackle this best by continuing to work with the Local Authority, Swansea Bay University Health Board and West Glamorgan Regional Partnership.

“Neath Port Talbot Carers Service is looking forward into the future to provide the best appropriate support for carers that is possible.”

The council is also using the campaign to raise awareness around young carers and the support available to them.

Young carers are often not recognised for the contribution they make and the caring responsibilities they have because of their age. The council’s NPT Young Carers Service works to ensure they are afforded the same opportunities as their peers and any barriers to them achieving are removed.

The NPT Young Carers Service is running a weekly youth club on Zoom plus quizzes, video competitions and much more. The service is also providing regular telephone support to young carers and their families to ensure they have support in relation to shopping, collecting medication and daily errands through the NPT Safe & Well Scheme.

Carers Week (June 8th – 14th) is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution carers make to families and communities. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

For more information on the support available to carers in Neath Port Talbot, visit:

Website – www.nptcarers.co.uk

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nptcarers

Twitter – https://twitter.com/NPTCarers

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/neath-port-talbot-carers-service-ltd

For more information on the support available to young carers in Neath Port Talbot, visit: Twitter  @NPT_YS  or Facebook www.facebook.com/NPTYouthService . Alternatively, contact the Council’s Single Point of Contact service on 01639 686802.