In preparation for Carers Week (5-11 June), Swindon Carers Centre is emphasising the vital role of unpaid carers and encouraging the community to show their support.
The charity is organising the Walk A Mile awareness event on Saturday, June 10th, and aims to see a strong turnout of participants championing the cause of unpaid carers.
Unpaid carers in Swindon play a crucial role in the local economy, saving an astounding £592 million each year, as recently highlighted in a report by Carers UK. This figure represents a remarkable 43% increase over the past decade, marking the largest growth in the South West of England. It underlines the indispensable contribution of unpaid carers in caring for family members, partners, or friends, providing vital support to our healthcare and social care systems, which often face significant strain.
Swindon Carers Centre invites everyone to join the Walk A Mile event, taking place at The Swindon Hub, located at 36 The Parade, Swindon, on June 10th.
Registration for the short, circular walk will be open from 10:30 am, with walkers setting off at 11 am. Pebley Beach Hyundai and Suzuki Swindon, kind sponsors of Walk A Mile, will also match fund donations up to £1,000.
To further support their cause, Swindon Carers Centre has organised an online raffle, offering a variety of prizes such as hampers of goodies, beauty vouchers, restaurant vouchers, and leisure vouchers.
These generous donations have been provided by Lalbagh Indian Cuisine, Kay’s Beauty Salon, Franclin’s Hair and Beauty, Lil Beauty, Kutting Chai, Swindon Wildcats Ice Hockey, Delta Tennis Centre, and Barnes Coaches. Raffle tickets are available for purchase at £1 each.
Julia Smith, a registered carer with Swindon Carers Centre, shares her personal experience of caring for her mother, Sheila, who has dementia. Julia’s role as a caregiver is a 24/7 commitment, spanning three years with limited respite. She explains the physical and mental challenges she faces, expressing gratitude for the support provided by Swindon Carers Centre. She recognises the importance of having someone to talk to during these difficult times.
“Physically and mentally, it’s challenging,” said Julia. “You know if you get up in the morning and want to go out you can’t, because mum doesn’t go out – she doesn’t travel well. There is no life for me at this time, I am looking after her all the time.
“I’m glad Swindon Carers Centre are there. I don’t know how I’d cope without them, because you do need to have someone to talk to.
“My mum was there for me all through my childhood and now it’s her turn to be looked after. But I do worry that people don’t understand it, or they don’t care – because it’s not something that they have experienced or would even consider doing.”
Recent data from the 2021 Census reveals an increase in the number of hours individuals spend caring for someone. In Swindon, more people are dedicating 20 to 50 hours per week and over 50 hours per week to their caring responsibilities.
Swindon Carers Centre’s primary aim is to enhance the well-being of individuals with caring responsibilities, allowing them to lead fulfilling lives alongside their caregiving role. The centre offers various services to support carers, including the Carers Support Line, 1:1 support, welfare and benefits advice, and activities designed to provide respite from their caring duties.
Susanna Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Swindon Carers Centre, acknowledges the staggering £592 million saved by unpaid carers in Swindon, as highlighted by Carers UK. saying: “The latest figures from Carers UK show that unpaid carers in Swindon save our economy a staggering £592 million. We also know, from the 2021 Census data, that carers are caring for longer hours than ever before – an indication that they are under increasing pressure due to the challenges of complex caring roles.
“Our Walk A Mile event is a brilliant opportunity for the Swindon community to show carers that they are visible, valued and recognised for the work they do. We would welcome people to support them by joining us at Walk A Mile or helping us fundraise by playing our online raffle.
“We would also like to thank our event sponsor, Pebley Beach, and local businesses for supporting unpaid carers by donating prizes for our raffle.”
For more information about Walk A Mile visit: https://www.swindoncarers.org.uk/support-us-for-carers-week/
You can buy a raffle ticket online at: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/swindon-carers-centre-carers-week-2023-raffle
