We are proud to be part of the National Carers Week campaign and helping to ensure we make caring visible and valued.
Carers Trust comments:
'Carers Week is brought to life by individuals, groups and organisations coming together from around the UK. This year, people across our nations are continuing to face challenges as a result of COVID-19. Many people, including current carers, took on even more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older who need help, but some carer support services have been withdrawn due to the pandemic. This year, during Carers Week we’re celebrating unpaid carers’ contribution and highlighting the continued challenges they face.'
So, in unison with Carers Trust, we are raising our voices to let everyone know that unpaid carers deserve to be recognised for the vital contribution they make – and that we are here for them during Carers Week and beyond.
Elizabeth McPherson, Chief Executive Officer at Carers Plus Yorkshire, says:
‘This week coincides with a momentous occurrence for our organisation; we are joining forces with our neighbours in Hambleton and Richmondshire and changing our name. Our union will not only bring strength to the future of both organisations but will ensure that a vibrant and high quality service is guaranteed for all carers across the areas we cover. I am immensely proud of our team and the trustees, as we come together to create one charity with vision and understanding.’
Our history places us in a good position to meet the future need:
For the last 25 years, Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource and Hambleton and Richmondshire Carers Centre have been providing unpaid carers across their respective areas with the highest quality information, advice and support services. Over this time, we have developed a unique partnership and a strong bond between our teams that has enabled us to share knowledge, expertise and resources wherever possible and in the best interests of our clients.
Both organisations have developed a highly valued and impactful carers service; valued by our clients and those who commission our work. We have built a team of exceptionally skilled advisers who are knowledgeable and understanding, committed to placing clients at the heart of their work. As organisations’ we are proud to have a reputation for listening and acting upon carers’ voices to ensure our services and support directly meets the needs of the unpaid carer community we serve.
Most recently Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource sought to diversify their offer to include work within the wider community. They have extended their portfolio to include opportunities for unpaid carers and non-carers: Action Towards Inclusion (employment support), Home from Hospital, My Neighbourhood (aiming to reduce loneliness and isolation) and Community Services (originally established to reduce the impact of COVID 19). The potential to explore these and new opportunities across our developing geography is a very exciting prospect.
Earlier this year we started the journey to become one charity, strategically aiding sustainability, and operationally safeguarding services well into the future. We join forces officially on 1st July, embracing the challenge to meet our newly formed vision:
'Carers Plus Yorkshire, where unpaid carers and those we support in the wider community feel listened to, supported and empowered.'
Ahead of the 1st July, Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource has adopted the new name - we are proud to take this first step with immediate effect.
Over the coming months we will be working to bring Carers Plus Yorkshire clients the benefits of our union; the first of which will be the development of a new website full of fantastic features including meaningful resources, case studies, information and a wonderful diary of activities and opportunities.