Today is Carers Rights Day!

Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for someone for a while, we believe it’s important that you understand your rights and are able to access the support that is available to you as soon as you need it.

Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.

Carers Rights Day is a national day that is aiming to ensure:

• unpaid carers are aware of their rights
• unpaid carers know where to get help and support
• the needs of unpaid carers are raised at a national and local level

How we can help you

We want to make sure that unpaid carers are armed with knowledge and know what support is available.

Carers who have been caring for a long time tell us their number one piece of advice to new carers is to improve knowledge of the world you now live in.

Some ways to do that are to:

• talk to your GP
• speak to us to find out more about what support is available to you (even if you’ve spoken to us before – your situation may have changed or there might be new support available)
• find organisations who are experts on the condition/disability your loved one has
• come along to one of our cafes and support groups where you can meet other people in similar situations to yours
• ask about our Here to Talk befriending service and professional counselling sessions

Your rights

Find out more about your rights as an unpaid carer on our website.

Help us to promote Carers Rights Day

• Share our posts on social media (Twitter – @carerswiltshire | Facebook – Carer Support Wiltshire)
• Use the hashtag #carersrightsday

If you would like to know more about the support that’s available to you please call us on 0800 181 4118 or visit our website.

Nigel’s caring story

Nigel cares for his wife Margaret, who has Parkinson’s and is currently recovering from surgery.

He has kindly agreed for us to share his story this Carers Rights Day, to help to highlight the situation he and many others find themselves in – navigating a new world of juggling paid care, equipping the home and trying to find a small amount of personal space for mental wellbeing. 

Read Nigel’s story

Find information

Carers Rights Day aims to help unpaid carers find out where to get help and support.

When you become a carer it can be very confusing to know who to approach for what; even if you’ve been caring for a while things aren’t always clear.

You’ll find information on our Information Hub and you can always call us on 0800 181 4118 during office hours for advice too.

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