Funding to support Sunderland's unpaid carers

Following Carers Week, which took place last month, Sunderland's carers are being reminded of the continued support available to them.

Carers Week, which this year took place 7-13 June, celebrates and recognises the vital contribution of the UK's unpaid carers - supporting people who may have a disability, a mental or physical illness or need extra help as they grow older.

Now, Sunderland City Council and NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are pledging additional support for carers throughout the year, jointly committing funding to ensure carers are recognised for their important work and offered the help they need.

The joint funding will support Sunderland Carers Centre to provide vital support for unpaid carers of all ages. Support available from the Carers Centre can vary depending on each individual's needs, they can access services from health information, practical advice and guidance, to formal carers assessments if required.

The funding being provided by Sunderland City Council and the CCG includes:

£60 Local Authority funding for Independent Advice Support Services for children and young people with special educational needs and their families.

£25,000 provided by Together for Children to enable the support of young carers within the City.

£75,000 LA funding for Care Act Assessments for Carers and a further £50,000 LA funding for personal budgets as a result of the assessments.

£81,000 LA funding and £489,000 from the CCG has been allocated to provide services which offer early intervention and prevention for carers and their families, advice, information and support based on the need of the individuals, specific support that can support the carer and their family such as support groups, short breaks.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Healthy City, Councillor Kelly Chequer, said: "For many of Sunderland's carers, the number of hours spent looking after a friend or family member has rocketed over the course of the pandemic, especially when many essential support services and day centres were forced to close during lockdowns.

"We want to recognise that these unpaid carers are doing an incredible job but also let them know that they are not alone and highlight some of the resources that are available to them.

"The council works in partnership with Sunderland Carers Centre and the local health service to provide a confidential information, advice and support service to carers, and this has been more important than ever during the Covid crisis."

David Chandler, Chief Finance Officer at NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "The CCG understand the enormous strain that caring for someone can place on an individual. That is why we feel it is important to support The Sunderland Carers Centre as they recognise that there is no such thing as a typical carer and can provide help that is tailored to the individual."

Amanda Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Sunderland Carers Centre, said: "Sunderland Carers Centre value the commitment of Sunderland City Council, Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group and Together for Children in supporting our independent charity to continue to develop services which reflect the individual needs of carers and their families throughout the city. Our team are committed to ensuring that the theme of this year's carers week celebrations 'making carers visible and valued' continue to be embedded within Sunderland's culture from now on."

If you are an unpaid carer in need of support, or you know an unpaid carer who needs support, please visit https://www.sunderlandcarers.co.uk/help/do-you-care/or www.carers.org.

A survey of carers is now live and available online at https://tinyurl.com/ADASSCare.