Carers across Falkirk can attend a free event held by the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre this week as part of national Carers Rights Day (Friday 24th November).
Each year, Carers Rights Day brings organisations from across the UK together to help carers in their local community know their rights and find out how to get the help and support they are entitled to.
The event (hosted at Carers Centre, 1A Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB) will highlight various important aspects of services and information available to support them including:
- Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 and what it means to them and their families
- Welfare benefits and how to access the right ones
- Short Breaks that are available to carers/families
- Forth Valley Carers Card and what it can entitle you to as a carer
Julia Swan, Chair of Falkirk Integration Joint Board said: “Carers Rights Day brings together support from across the entire Falkirk community. This can assist in helping people understand their rights as well as highlighting how and where to access advice and support. I encourage carers of all ages to go along to this free event.”
Patricia Cassidy, Chief Officer of Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership said: “The Annual Carers Rights Day comes at an important time this year, just a few months before the implementation of the Carers (Scotland) Act next April. The Act will rightly further the rights of both adult and younger carers.
"Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre offer all year round support for carers and we would encourage any carer to use their services and get the most from their situation.”
Unpaid carers represent a significant section of the local population in Falkirk with an estimated 15,000 currently providing care to family members and others.
A carer is someone who, unpaid, looks after their partner, child, relative or friend due to a disability, long term illness, frailty, mental ill health or an addiction. Many children and young people are young carers and take on caring responsibilities for parents and/or siblings.
Many people do not recognise themselves as a carer and are unaware of the support available to them, or what they are entitled to.
Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre is an organisation that helps support carers in the local community. They are funded by the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership to provide information and support, including services to improve carers
- own health and wellbeing
- financial situation
- skills and knowledge on different aspects of caring
The information session runs from 10.30am to 12pm and is followed by a buffet lunch.
To book a place, please email us or call 01324 611510.