Organisations across Cumbria are highlighting the cost of caring for the 56,400 Unpaid Carers in the county.
To mark Carers Rights Day 2022, Carer Support Cumbria is raising awareness of Unpaid Carers' rights, their needs and the support available.
Carers Rights Day 2022 take place on Thursday, 24 November and the campaign has been organised by Carers UK.
Jo Adamson-Parker is a Parent Carer living in Cumbria with her two sons, Pix, 12 and Squid, 8. Pix has being diagnosed with autism and detachment disorder and Squid with Global Development Delay which means his cognitive age is 4. Becoming an Unpaid Carer for her sons has changed Jo’s life in more ways than being a parent.
Jo said: “I had a successful career as a Casting Director, worked with some amazing people, loved my work and then ten years ago I decided to adopt. It changed everything. Now my life’s challenging, exhausting and sometimes it’s a little bit daft but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Becoming a parent, I gave up my job and set up my own acting studio, so I could work when the boys started school. However since 2020 because of their needs I can’t work. I have to be available and on call all the time.
“My youngest boy has seizures and if I get a call from school I have to drop everything and go. There are so many hospital appointment and meetings to attend to discuss their needs, as well as being ready for any calls from school.
“I hate to think people think I’m flaky, when I say I will do something and at the last minute have to say no because something has come up with the boys, but the boys are my priority.”
Jo shares her experiences of being a Parent Carer through her blog, Ninja Mam. She added: “In my blogs I share the realities of being a parent, of adoption, of living with special needs, of living and learning and of the love you can feel even when you’re too tired to move and feel like you’re the worst parent in the world.
“I’m trying to teach my boys to be men who can cry, who can laugh, who can dance it out.”
CEO of Carer Support Eden, Dr Dani Leslie said: “Every household in the country is facing financial uncertainty with the current cost of living crisis, however, this is being felt even more acutely by Unpaid Carers.
“Carers Rights day is an opportunity for us to raise awareness of the situation in Cumbria. It is an opportunity to ensure Carers are aware of their rights and know where to come for help and support.
“Carers are people just like you and me. They support a family member, a friend or a neighbour - someone who couldn’t manage without their support. In our lifetime, 3 in 5 of us will become Unpaid Carers.”
CEO of Carer Support South Lakes, Debi Marsden said: “This year’s theme of Caring Costs focuses on how Unpaid Carers pay the cost of looking after a family member or friend. It highlights Carers’ well-being and ability to access health services, to the costs to their finances and employment options.
“It is estimated that this number will rise. Carers UK foresees a 40% increase in the number of Carers by 2037. Caring may be required round the clock, or it may only be required a few hours a week. Regardless of how much time is spent on caring for others, being a Carer can hugely impact your life.”
CEO of Furness Carers, Craig Backhouse said: “Unpaid Carers need to know their rights, be that in the workplace, in accessing healthcare and financial support.
"In Cumbria, there are 56,400 Unpaid Carers, and without support 1-in-5 Carers give up paid employment due to their caring responsibilities.
"We are supporting and part of Carers Rights Day because we want to empower Carers with information and support so they can feel confident asking for what they need and can challenge things when their rights are not being met.”
CEO of West Cumbrian Carers, Angel Longrigg added: “We all need to recognise what Caring Costs - and this Carers Rights Day we want to highlight what life is like for Unpaid Carers, promote where they can go for help and support, and make them aware of their rights and how to access them.
“With the cost of living rising, people caring for someone who has a health condition that requires them to keep warm don’t have the option to turn down the heating. Where people are caring for someone with incontinence, there isn’t an option to reduce the amount you use your washing machine. These are the real situations people providing Unpaid Carer are facing."
Carer Support Cumbria delivers the All Age Carers Contract throughout Cumbria. It subcontracts the five local Carers organisations who have extensive experience in delivering universal and targeted support services for unpaid Carers age 5-plus:- Carer Support South Lakes, Carlisle Carers, Carer Support Eden, Furness Carers and West Cumbria Carers. All members have extensive experience in delivering Cumbria County Council contracted universal and targeted support services for unpaid carers, young adult carers, young carers, cared for and their families.
Unpaid Carers can contact their local Carer organisations for support, advice and guidance: