How carers can get involved
In the consultation on the Carers Strategy, carers told the government that they need breaks and that one size doesn’t fit all - different things work for different people. Some people want to go away for a few days or even a week, whilst others want to be able to go to an evening class or social group with friends once a week. For some people, a break doesn’t mean going anywhere – it’s having the space and time at home to pursue their own interests and relax, and sometimes having equipment they need to do this, or a nicer environment at home. For others, they actually want to have a trip or day out with the person they care for but need extra help to do so.
However, breaks don’t just happen on their own. Carers often need high quality replacement care available which both the carer and the cared-for person trust. If not, the carer just isn’t able to take a break.
Further information on breaks for carers:
Learn more about respite care
A carer's blog on finding time for yourself as a carer"
Gordon's blog post about "Give carers a break" campaign
If you're a carer, you can get involved in the "Give Carers a Break" campaign by:
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Fill in our “Give Carers a Break” campaign postcard. Submit these postcards to your local Carers' Centre or Crossroads Care scheme who are collecting these for carers so that they can present them en masse to the Primary Care Trust, local authority or MP. If there is no local carers centre organisation in your area, please send your post cards to the campaign team.
- Write to your MP, local councillors and PCT chief executives. Make sure that you include details on how this issue affects you and your family.
Download a template letter to be written to MP
Download a template letter to be written to local councillor
Download a template letter to be written to PCT
"How do I find my local carers organisation?"
If you do not know which local carers organisations there are in your area, you can locate them here:
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers network of local carers centres
"There is no local carers organisation in my area, how do I still take part in the campaign?"
If there is no local carers organisation near you, you can still participate in the campaign by:
Sending the letters to your MP, local councillor or PCT - there are templates above that you can use.
Download Give us a Break campaign materials here:
Give carers a break campaign post cards
Go back to "Give Carers a Break" main page
Get in touch if you’d like more information on how to get involved in the campaign. Email us on givecarersabreak@carers.org or call us on 020 8498 7942.
