Campaign for Torbay carers takes to the road

Stickers are springing up on car windows around the Bay with the message ‘Join Torbay Carers Register Now’ as part of a new campaign to raise awareness of the free help and support that is available to the thousands of unpaid carers across Torbay.

Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust runs carers services for people living in the Bay. Torbay’s Carers Register is one of the most successful of its kind in the country, supporting over 3,500 carers a year. It offers unpaid carers a range of services including a Carers’ Emergency Card; discount scheme; a regular carers’ newsletter and a host of useful information and support including drop-in centres in two of the Bay’s towns.

The striking car window stickers feature an image of the purple and yellow Carers Register card and encourages people to sign up to the register to access help and support. This latest campaign was launched on National Carers’ Rights Day which also aims to raise awareness of the needs of unpaid carers across the country.

James Drummond, Carers Services Lead at Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “We’re really keen to identify and support as many local unpaid carers as possible. Without the support of their family, friends and neighbours, many vulnerable people in the Bay could not live independently. However, many of these people who care for someone simply do not see themselves as a carer and we want to encourage them to come forward and receive the support they’re entitled to.”

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James added: “Last year, we ran a very successful campaign with Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Paignton and Torquay to identify hidden carers who, along with their own groceries, were buying shopping for the people they care for. The scheme was so successful it is now being rolled out in Sainsbury’s stores across the UK. We hope that by taking this new campaign out on the road we will get the message out to even more people.”

Pat Goss, Chair of Torbay Carers Register and a former carer, is keen to get the message out to thousands more carers in the Bay. Pat said: “We know that there are many people caring for a relative or a friend who don’t use our services. The register was started by local carers more than 10 years ago. The support it offers can make a real difference to the lives of many carers, giving them peace of mind and links to all sorts of support. We hope that hundreds of carers and residents will carry the message around the Bay in their cars and that it will prompt people who care to think about joining the register.”

Local residents are also being encouraged to display a window sticker to show their support for the campaign. For a free car window sticker, or for more information about support services available for carers in Torbay, contact Signposts for Carers on 01803 666620. Alternatively, visit www.tsdhc.nhs.uk