A NEW service will offer vital support to unpaid carers after it was revealed more than 27,000 people in Barnsley spend part of their week looking after adult friends and relatives.
The free service is called Barnsley Carers Service and will provide resources designed to improve unpaid carers’ quality of life. These will include drop in sessions, information, advice, one to one provision, employment support, events and activities, befriending and assistance with accessing grant funding. It will be run by national adult health and social care charity Making Space.
According to Care UK, the consequences of feeling unsupported in a caring role can include social isolation, worsening physical health, mental health problems, trouble sleeping, a lack of time to exercise, struggling to eat healthily and reducing their working hours.
Barnsley Council will invest almost £500,000 in the borough-wide service over the next two years, based on the findings from its Barnsley Cares Carers’ Strategy 2017-20. The new service has been designed in partnership with carers, partners and other care providers to give comprehensive support.
Cath Magee, area manger for Making Space, said: “We will be co-ordinating with partner organisations to improve the support and services offered to carers.
“As part of our offer, we will be working with Beacon South Yorkshire which will ensure carers of substance users in Barnsley are supported. This is a fantastic opportunity to harness the strengths of the local communities across Barnsley through this new combined model.”
Barnsley Carers Service is launched on Wednesday August 1, and can be contacted at BarnsleyCarers@makingspace.co.uk or on 288772.
