This week, 8th– 14th June, is Carers Week, a national campaign to help ‘make caring visible’. In Sheffield there are over 65,000 unpaid carers from the age of 5 to 95. ‘Do you care?’ is a social media campaign developed in partnership with Sheffield Carers Centre, Sheffield Young Carers and Sheffield City Council that aims to raise awareness of these unpaid carers, and to help them access support they are entitled to. The campaign encourages everybody to visit the Do you care? website to ‘show you care’.
We’re supporting this campaign by sharing some insights gathered from carer’s and a cared for person during these challenging times.
An insight from a person being cared for by a family member:
A list of ways they are supported by a family member since experiencing problems with their mental health:
- Bringing food everyday whilst in hospital
- Attendance to A + E everyday for hours on end whilst they’re in crisis
- Sticks up for them, making sure their care is the best that it can be, and speaking for them when they can’t do it
- Helps their mind and body stay active
- Helps them to live their life and cope.
“Thank you carer – you do things for me that no one else would do. No one cares more or can replace you because you’re my mum.”
An insight from a carer:
Part of a poem written by a Sheffield Carer.
Ways to ‘Show you care’
- Visit www.doyoucare.co.uk and choose from the various options to ‘Show you care’
- Posting, re-tweeting and sharing as many campaign posts as you can, using the hashtag #DoYouCareSheffield
