Newham council is celebrating the amazing job that carers do.
We are supporting the most vulnerable members of our community and showcasing the support that is available to them.
Carers Rights Day is an annual event, bringing together organisations across the UK to help carers in their local community find out how to get the help and support they are entitled to. This year the campaign’s focus is the rights that unpaid carers have.
Carers play a central and often under-recognised role in supporting our society and economy, and the scale and complexity of Caring in Newham increased significantly as a result of the pandemic. The last Census (2011) estimated that there were 24,500 Adult Carers living in Newham. Based on 2020 Office for National Statistics (ONS) data and Carers UK evidence that one in five adults in the UK are Carers it estimated that this number has increased by around 55% over the last 10 years to approximately 53,750 – if not more, recognising that so many Carers are ‘hidden’.
Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Carers Rights Day is so important as it helps carers both understand their rights, and helps showcase how to access the support that is available.
“In Newham we have thousands of unpaid carers who have taken on caring responsibilities for others. This is why, ensuring carers are aware of their rights, and where they can get help and support, is essential.”
The Newham website has lots of information for carers including information from our partners Mobilise and Carers First Newham.
Mobilise is working in partnership with Newham Council, focusing on the identification and online support of unpaid carers in Newham. Carers First Newham offers personalised information and support to carers, online, by phone and face-to-face in the local community.
Last year Newham Council launched its Carers Strategy to support carers. This is designed to improve the support we give to carers and has practical steps that we are collectively taking to recognise, involve, empower and support carers – young and old.
