We are working in partnership with Carers Gloucestershire and our project is funded by Hospice UK and St James Place which allows us to deliver this project free of charge for everyone that needs our support. We believe we can make a real difference to your staff that are caring for someone with a life-limiting illness and may not know of the services they can access through being a carer.
Here are a few stats about carers and why we are delivering this project.
The main aims of our project is to;
- Help carers to acquire new skills, knowledge and understanding
- Identify and support previously ‘hidden’ carers
- Begin to create community support networks for carers
- Learn the most effective ways of helping and supporting carers
Why are we are doing this?
- 4,500 people in Gloucestershire per year care for somebody who is living with life-limiting illness
- 5,900 Gloucestershire deaths p.a. of which 75% were expected
- Unpaid carers account for 12% of the UK working population
- 20% of carers provide more than fifty hours of care per week
Carers in Employment Face Particular Issues;
- Very challenging due to time constraints – juggling responsibilities
- Little time to access support – may need any support to be in non-working hours
- Caring responsibilities may not be known to employer or primary care
- Less likely to self-refer for support
- Approximately 42% of carers are men
- Particularly likely to reject the term ‘carer’ (“It’s my duty”)
- Heightened embarrassment about needing emotional support but more likely to need and accept practical guidance
- 306 carers referred to Longfield last year, of which only 15% were male