Carers Rights Day 2024 – Recognising your Rights

Throughout the UK carers provide critical and invaluable support to a partner, family member or friend.

Last week we marked Carers Rights Day and this year’s theme is ‘Recognising your Rights’

Here in Flintshire we are proud to support over 11,500 residents who have caring responsibilities both through in-house services and our partner organisations. But many people don’t see themselves as carers and are often unaware of their rights and what they can get in terms of support and benefits.

Councillor Christine Jones, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Services, said:

“Carers and young carers make a significant contribution to society, and it is important for them to know that there is help out there to support them in their own right. I’m really proud of the wide range of carers services that we deliver here in Flintshire, and I encourage carers who need support to come forward.”

A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, frailty, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.

A carer may be any age including:

·        A young carer under 18 years of age

·        A parent carer caring for a child with additional support needs

·        A friend or neighbour providing support to someone who is vulnerable

·        A husband, wife or partner

·        A person caring for an elderly parent who needs support

Caring for someone can take up a few hours each week, or a carer may be caring for 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for a family member, friend or neighbour for some time, you can often feel unheard or unsupported, but as an unpaid carer you have rights.

The purpose of Carers Rights Day is to ensure carers are aware of their rights, letting carers know where to get help and support, and raising awareness.

Craig Macleod, Chief Officer for Social Services, said:

“We recognise the meaningful contribution that carers, including young carers make in providing care and support to their loved ones and understand that they need to feel supported themselves in order to do so. The wellbeing of carers is of great importance and we want to ensure that carers are aware that they can access advice and support in their own right at any time and not just when they are in a crisis.”

On Thursday our partner organisation NEWCIS held a Carers Rights open day at their new Carers Centre on Mold High Street.

Claire Sullivan, Chief Executive of NEWCIS, added:

“We can offer carers a wide range of support including financial support, an award-winning respite scheme, carer needs assessments, counselling, training, peer support groups, hospital support and more. We can help carers to access the information, guidance and support they need to help them in their caring role, as well as informing them about their rights as an unpaid carer. So please pop in and see us.”

For more information: 

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