young carers | Carer Support Wiltshire

First Aid for the Mind

August 12, 2016 by Jules Stanbridge Leave a Comment

Exam time is a stressful period for most young people, but when you are a young adult carer it can be difficult to combine studying and exams with a caring role.

Being a carer can have a big impact on the things that are important to growing up. A quarter are bullied at school because of their caring role and lose more than one day a month through lateness of absence. Over 44% reported a mental health problem whilst 29% had dropped out of college/university because of their caring role.

Carer Support Wiltshire are running a First Aid for the Mind workshop on Wednesday 24^th August to teach young adult carers how to spot the signs and symptoms of poor mental health. They will learn the skills needed to help them manage stress and anxiety when things get tough and they feel unable to cope.

Young adult carers are young people between the ages of 16-25 who provide unpaid care to a family member or friend who is physically or mentally ill, disabled or misuses substances. There are more than 375,000 young adult carers in the UK, although this is believed to be a huge underestimate of the true numbers as many hide their caring role, or do not identify themselves as carers.

If you are aged 16-25 and caring for someone we can offer help and support. Call us and ask to speak to Andrea James.

Success for campaign calling for recognition of student carers

August 1, 2016 by Jules Stanbridge Leave a Comment

In February, student carer Carol Hayward, 21, started a campaign calling for a tick box for carers to be added to the UCAS application form. The change would mean that universities could easily find out whether applicants would be studying as well as caring unpaid, for someone with an illness, disability, mental health problem or an addiction.

Carer Support Wiltshire joined Carers Trust and other network partners to back the campaign and in just six weeks more than 2,500 signatures poured in to show their support.

UCAS has now confirmed that from 2018 there will be a specific option on its Apply form.

Carers Trust research has recently highlighted the facts about student carers in the UK, which include that:

Half of young adult carers in college or university are struggling because of their caring role.
Young adult carers are four times more likely to have dropped out of college or universities than students without caring roles.
14% of young carers in school said they would not go to college or university because of their caring role.
24% of young adult carers in school said they could not afford to go to college or university, while 41% are unsure.

The change is another positive step towards ensuring the impact of a caring role on a young adult carers aspirations and future education is recognised.

If you are aged between 16 and 25 years old and need some support in your caring role contact our support worker, Andrea on 0800 181 4118.

GP Carers Scheme Hits New Heights

July 14, 2016 by Jules Stanbridge Leave a Comment

The Carer Support Wiltshire Investors in Carers GP Accreditation Scheme held their annual awards evening in July to recognise and celebrate those Wiltshire GP practices who have gone above and beyond for unpaid carers. This year saw a record number of submissions and winners, with 37 practices achieving awards.

The scheme, funded by Wiltshire Council and the NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group aims to raise awareness of carers’ issues in GP practices and recognise their support to carers with the awards

To achieve a gold award, practices need to meet more than a dozen requirements, including; maintaining an up-to-date carer’s register, having a carer’s lead, providing flexible appointments for carers and holding at least one carer’s clinic per year. Twenty two practices were awarded a Gold Plus award for their ongoing gold standard commitment to carers.

“We are privileged in Wiltshire to receive such expert and friendly support from Carer Support Wiltshire; they have never failed to deliver with advice for me, as Carers Lead, or for a vital help and support for our much valued carers.” Caren Clarke, Carers Lead at Three Swans Surgery in Salisbury who won a Gold Plus Award.

Ann cares for her husband, John and is a patient at the Endless Street Surgery, Salisbury who also won a Gold Plus Award.

“Everyone at the surgery has been brilliant. Not long after a period in hospital (for a broken pelvis) I attended a carer health check at the surgery. At the time I was finding it difficult to get out and felt quite low. I was referred to one of the Carer Clinics where I met Julian, a support worker at Carer Support Wiltshire. Julian was lovely and full of information. He referred me to Adult Social Care Services to see if I could get more support caring for my husband.”

21% of carers providing over 50 hours of care say they are in poor health compared with nearly 11% of the non-carer population with 39 % putting off medical treatment because of their caring role.

Since the start of the Investors in Carers scheme there has been improved identification of previously unknown carers, including young carers, with GPs being the main source of these referrals. Because of surgery carer health checks, 624 carers were seen at clinics in the last twelve months with 134 (21%) being referred for a follow on health appointment because of a health concern identified at the appointment. Health issues identified include high BMI, diabetes, depression, substance misuse and back pain.

Paul Wilkins who attends the Hindon Surgery recently praised the scheme in his recent blog:

“The Hindon Surgery Carers’ Clinic was a terrific and very worthwhile experience which really opened up our eyes to the many ways the NHS, the surgery, charity and Wiltshire Council are genuinely trying to help carers, as well as support the way in which loved ones themselves are cared for.”

You can read his blog here: https://hindonwiltshire.wordpress.com/2016/05/04/who-cares-for-the-carers/

A big thank you to Bianca Goss Photography for donating her services.

Some names have been changed.

First Aid for the Mind

Success for campaign calling for recognition of student carers

GP Carers Scheme Hits New Heights

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