Get Involved During Carers’ Week

It is Carers’ Week and we are encouraging all our tenants to get involved with this campaign, taking place between 10th and 16th June.

Designed to raise awareness of carers, the contributions they make and the challenges they face, Carers’ Week is an important yearly campaign that we would love as many Nehemiah tenants as possible to join in with and help us raise the profile of carers throughout our communities and society as a whole, and to ensure every carer knows there is support available.

What Is Carers’ Week?

Carers’ Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring.

The week-long event highlights the challenges unpaid carers face and recognises the enormous contributions carers make to families and communities across the UK.

The campaign is also designed to help those individuals who don’t consider themselves as having caring duties, to identify as carers and access the vital support they need and deserve.

During Carers’ Week, thousands of individuals and organisations come together to provide support for carers, run activities and events throughout the UK, and highlight the vital role carers play and the importance of caring.

The theme for 2024 is Putting Carers On The Map, all about recognising the incredible contributions made by carers in the UK and making sure their voices are heard in society.

The week aims to boost the visibility of carers among politicians, employers and in society as a whole.  Carers deserve our respect and support, and this week is designed to ensure this happens.

To find out more about this campaign and how you can get involved, visit Carers’ Week.

What Is A Carer?

A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction, or needs more support as they get older. A carer is not someone who volunteers or is employed to provide support.

A carer carries out a vital role but one that has its challenges – which is why carers need our recognition, respect, and support.

Whilst carers week celebrates and raises awareness of unpaid carers we also wanted to raise awareness of the fantastic role paid carers do in caring for many of our elderly residents.  We spoke to one of the carers who visits one of our Charles Pearson Court residents twice a day about what she loves about being a carer.

Here’s what carer Marsha said:

Marsha Cork has been a carer for 3 years and she said: “It is so rewarding being a carer, the lady I care for at Charles Pearson Court is so warm and tender and a beautiful person. As a care provider, you meet many amazing people all with stories to tell! You have countless interesting conversations.”

When asked why Marsha got into the role of a carer she said “In Jamaica I was with my mum and grandmother and I helped to care for them and I decided I wanted to be a carer to give back the love, kindness and support they showed to me.”

Marsha’s advice to anyone thinking about a career in care is “Make sure this is something you want to do and are happy to do. It’s a role that takes patience so you have to have patience. It’s true that this line of work is so much more than a job. Through providing necessary care, you support and improve someone’s physical and emotional wellbeing, which is truly rewarding and special.”

What Can Nehemiah Do To Help?

At Nehemiah, we want all our tenants to be able to live in safe, comfortable homes and supportive communities.

If you are a carer or know someone who is, please get in touch with us so that we can ensure you have access to much-needed support.

For further information on Carers’ Week and how you can get involved, or to access support as a carer, you can contact your Housing Officer or call us on 0121 358 0966 or email contact@nehemiah.co.uk and we will be happy to help.