This Carers Rights Day we want to take the opportunity to celebrate 21 years of Carers Together. The local charity is dedicated to improving carers' quality of life. The team which has grown and developed over the years listen to carers, they use their platform to provide carers with a voice, they provide information, practical and emotional support and promote carers rights.
The official birthday of Carers Together is 10 June; however the team and registered carers chose this campaign day to celebrate in recognition of the dedication to promoting carers rights.
So how did it all begin?
On 10 June 2003 Carers Together was born; set up as a registered charity by local carers who were meeting regularly to provide peer support in Redcar. Since then, the charity has developed and has supported over 14,000 carers across South Tees. The charity secured a contract with Redcar & Cleveland Adult Social care in 2009 to provide information and support to carers. The charity then developed a range of services and went on to secure an additional contract with Middlesbrough Borough Council to provide information and support to carers in Middlesbrough. The charity has received several grants for a range of funding bodies and now supports more than 2000 individual carers each year.
Reflections and Looking Ahead
Lee O'Brien is the Chief Executive Officer, a role which he embarked on in 2020 having been promoted from his three-year position of Chief Operating Officer. Lee spoke to us about his experience and what is ahead for the charity:
"I really enjoy my role and feel honoured to be able to work with carers who do amazing things every day under the most difficult circumstances. I also feel privileged to be part of a team that is so committed to supporting carers. I feel our biggest achievement is how we have been able to provide a quality service for carers during a pandemic and through a cost-of-living crisis. Looking forward, we want to continue to develop our range of services so that we can support more carers from all backgrounds’
Celebrations
Carers are joining the team to celebrate with fun and entertainment over afternoon tea at Whinstone View. Unsurprisingly the event has proved extremely popular and is completely full.
We wish everybody at Carers Together and all the carers who have engaged with their services a very happy birthday. Project Lead Kelly Hodgson had this to say:
21 years of delivering any service is a fantastic achievement, this is even truer of a charity that has grown and developed by those with lived experience; providing peer support.
We Care You Care has worked closely with Lee and the team at Carers Together for several years now and have seen first hand the dedication and commitment to supporting all carers across the South Tees.
We are currently working together, with other key stakeholders, exploring ways we can collectively ensure there is easy access to support and improve opportunities for early identification and continuous recognition for everybody looking after somebody who relies on them for care and support.
To all at Carers Together, I wish you a very happy 21st birthday!
What the Team Offer and How to Get Involved
The type of support available includes:
- Information and advice including financial and legal
- A Carers Card
- Support groups
- Activities and events
- Counselling
- Advocacy
- Young carers transition with The Junction Foundation
- Support and guidance for carers whose loved ones are in hospital
- Training for carers and professional
Carers Information and Support Service (CIS) in Hospitals
Will you be looking after someone when they leave hospital?
It can be a difficult time when the people you care for are unwell and in hospital. You may be concerned about how you care for them when they return home.
The Carers Information & Support Service is here to provide you with the help you need to be able to take on, or continue, your caring role.
The CIS Service works in James Cook University Hospital and in Redcar and Brotton hospitals.
For more information about this service contact Carers Together.
Get In Touch
You can register with Carers Together online here.
Telephone: 01642 488977 Email: info@carerstogether-rc.org.uk
Visit their; website, Facebook and Twitter page for the latest information, activities and events.
