Trowbridge shows support for unpaid carers in Wiltshire

Coun Stephen Cooper, the mayor of Trowbridge, was just one of many who gathered in the Civic Centre for the day to show carers in Trowbridge that they are a priority to the town.

The event took place on Tuesday, November 21 and aimed to help those in caring roles in Wiltshire understand their rights and learn how to access support.

“I think there’s a desperate need for an event like this,” said Trowbridge mayor Stephen Cooper.

“There are so many unpaid, unregistered, unacknowledged people caring for parents, children, brothers, sisters, and they just don’t know where to go for help.

“They don’t know who to approach and they need support and information,” he added.

According to Carers Support Wiltshire, a carer is anyone who provides unpaid care for a family member or friend who may not be able to manage on their own.

This can include looking after someone with a physical disability, long term health condition, mental health issue or a problem with substance misuse.

However, many unpaid carers feel obliged to carry out this role for their loved ones and do so with very little support and huge stress and emotional burnout.

In Wiltshire, there are currently 42,000 unpaid carer, and 11,805 of these provide over 50 hours of unpaid care a week.

Teresa, an NHS worker from Swindon, is a carer for her mother-in-law, and was just one of those who attended the event.

Teresa from Swindon is an unpaid carer who attended the event looking for support. (Image: Carer Support Wiltshire)

“It was really empowering. It’s about finding out what’s available and what’s out there,” she said.

“I’ve taken information from pretty much all the stalls and the energy one was particularly useful because a lot of people at the hospital where I work find it a struggle to heat their homes because of the energy crisis.”

Other organisations who spoke to carers at the event included Wiltshire Council, Citizen’s Advice Wiltshire, Dorothy House, Alzheimer’s Support and Bobby Van Trust.

“We were delighted to see so many people at the event,” said Leanne Hubbard, chief executive of Carer Support Wiltshire.

“We know that many will have taken away with them valuable information about services they can access and support available for themselves and perhaps the person they care for.

“Sometimes we’re so busy looking after other people that we forget to look after ourselves, but having access to the right support is key to ensuring carers can continue caring and do so without compromising their own physical and mental health,” she added.