Range of events to mark Carer’s week 6 – 12 June 2022

There’s plenty of information and support going on across Bridgend County Borough delivered by our Bridgend Carers Wellbeing service (The Care collective) and partners during Carers Week (6 – 12 June)

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges paid and unpaid carers face and recognising the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. So, during Carers Week, we are coming together to make caring Visible, Valued and Supported.

Here’s the schedule for events in Carer’s Week:

Monday 6 June

• Carers Awareness information stand, The Rhiw, Bridgend
• Carers Awareness Information stand, Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend County Borough Council
• Young Carers workshop, Coychurch Primary
• Online zoom Book Club, 2pm
• Play pack delivery to parent carers

Tuesday 7 June

• Information and support stand with refreshments at Pyle Life Centre, 10.30am – 12.30pm
• Coffee, tea, cake, and bingo at Aberkenfig Community Church, 1pm – 3pm
• Carers Awareness Information stand, Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend
• Carers Awareness information stand, Bridgend College (Pencoed and Bridgend campus) 11am – 1pm
• Young Carers teen group – Healthy relationships workshop with Brook Cymru and Nando’s, Bridgend Carers Centre, 5pm – 7pm

Wednesday 8 June

• Information and support stand with refreshments at Hi Tide Inn, Porthcawl, 10am – 2pm
• Carers walk, Newbridge Fields to dipping bridge, Bridgend 10.30pm – 1pm
• A Garden Party with Refreshments at the Bridgend Carers Centre from 12am-3pm
• Online parent carer training with Autside on anxiety, 7pm via zoom

Thursday 9 June

• Carers Awareness Information stand, Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend
• Carers Awareness Information stand, Porthcawl town centre
• Carers Awareness Information stand, Halo leisure, Maesteg, 10am – 12pm
• Carers Awareness Information stand, Maesteg Swimming pool, 12.30 – 2.30pm
• Carers drop in, The Mem, Nantymoel, 10am – 12pm
• The confidence magic wand, Bridgend Carers Centre, 10am – 11am
• Managing physical pain with hypnotherapy, Bridgend Carers Centre, 11.30am – 12.30pm
• Dementia carers group, Bridgend Carers Centre, 1pm – 3pm
• Parent carer coffee morning, Bridgend Carers Centre, 9am

Friday 11 June

• Carers Awareness Information stand, Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend
• Carers Awareness information stand, Bridgend College (Pencoed Campus) ‘Our Future Festival’ 10am – 2pm

Bridgend County Borough Council’s cabinet member for Social Services Councillor Jane Gebbie said: “Carers Week is about celebrating the essential work carers every single day and raising the profile of what carers need to support them in their essential roles, as well as informing those who are unaware of the services and benefits, they are entitled to. A carer can be any age and is someone who supports a family member, partner or friend who cannot manage on their own.

“Within Bridgend there approximately 18,000 adult Carers and 2000 young carers, although likely to be many more who have not yet identified or aware of being a carer.  In addition, the pandemic has undoubtedly created thousands more unpaid Carers, with figures likely to have risen to around 22,000.

“Across the UK there are millions of people who are carers, looking after a member of the family or a friend who has a disability, mental illness, or physical illness, or who needs extra help as they grow older. 

“Many face the difficulty of juggling their caring responsibilities with work, education or family life or they have to give up their income and pension rights to look after a loved one. They are, in many ways, an invisible workforce but one we could not do without. They deserve all our praise, thanks and support.”

For more details on the events above visit the The Care Collective website or the Bridgend Carers Centre website.

Find out more about Carers Week 2022 by visiting www.carersweek.org