The ninth annual Carers Rights Day, organised by Carers UK, took place on 5th December 2008, under the theme Making the Most of Your Money.
Over 1,000 events took place across the UK, with carers centres, GPs surgeries, local councils, libraries, charities, hospices and many other community groups providing support and information to local carers.
2008 events included:
Camden Borough Council held an information and advice day for carers along with ‘Pets for Therapy,’ massage, nail painting, exercise class and telecare demonstration.
Red Cross Carers Fieldworker project , Ceredigion held a competition asking carers and the general public to submit their top tips for saving money in the theme, with food prizes, donated from local butchers, bakers and farm shops.
Kennet Carers in Devizes, Wiltshire built a giant Monopoly Board in Devizes Town Hall with tiles symbolizing financial issues faced by carers. The event also included a range of other organisations including, Alzheimer’s Support, Autism Society, Citizens Advice Bureau, Independent Living Centre, Kennet District Council and Southern Electric.
Inverclyde Carers Centre, held a selection of workshops (pension service, money matters, welfare rights), myth-busting (question and answer session), role playing (scenario with carers centre and carers), info and money tree display to allow carers to post questions anonymously.
Western Health and Social Care Trust , Northern Ireland offered drop-in surgeries, benefits advice, details of local amenities and services for carers and a directory of local services/facilities that offer carer discounts.
Oldham Carers Centre held a carers day including advice and information workshops, a Carers Question Time (with Ivan Lewis MP, local councillors and service directors) and support from a range of pensions, employment and health organisations.
Ehsas Carers and the Dudley Carers Network organised a Carers Health Information Day at a local leisure centre with advice and information on moving and handling techniques, telecare, telaxation and mental wellbeing and food and nutrition, as well as tea, coffee and a free lunch, exercise classes.
In addition, hard-hitting new Carers UK research called Carers in Crisis was released to coincide with Carers Rights Day and saw coverage on GMTV, the BBC, local radio stations across the country and You and Yours and Moneybox Live on Radio 4. The research included stark new figures on the impact of the recession on carers and can be read in full at:
www.carersuk.org/Policyandpractice/Research/Financialimpactofcaring
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