Are you kind, compassionate, reliable and caring? You could make a difference to a family carer.
Did you know 77% of family carers in South Gloucestershire have not had a break since the start of the pandemic? Carers look after a friend, family member or neighbour who couldn’t manage without them. They often have to provide crucial care all day, every day, with little to no time for themselves. It’s sometimes impossible for carers to leave the person they look after.
Local charity, Carers Support Centre, runs a carers’ breaks service across South Gloucestershire. A trained volunteer sits with the cared-for person so that the carer can get out – maybe just to the shops, or to go for a walk.
Local carers explain what the service means to them:
“The volunteer is absolutely wonderful. My husband has got on really well and she has a lot of patience. It means I can go to my club and meet up with friends and have a good chat. This gives me something to talk to my husband about when I get home.” Audrey
“She’s such a lovely person and we both enjoy her company. In the time that she sits I go and paint for a couple of hours. This is something that I have not managed to do in 5 years and I find it very relaxing.” Pat
If you live in/near South Gloucestershire and can regularly spare 2-3 hours (Monday to Friday) a week or fortnightly during the day, Carers Support Centre would really like to hear from you. No personal care is involved, and previous experience is not required.
Marilyn Crump, Volunteer Coordinator explains:
“A volunteer needs to be someone a carer can trust and who wants to build a relationship with the cared-for person. We take time to find out about and train volunteers so that we can match them carefully to a family. This means that carers can take a regular break in complete confidence that the person they care for will be happy and safe.”
The charity provides their volunteers with induction, training, on-going support and travel expenses. All face-to-face activity is risk-assessed in line with Covid-19 guidelines and reviewed on a regular basis.
For more information, please contact Marilyn Crump, Volunteer Coordinator:
Email: volunteering@carerssupportcentre.org.uk
Tel: 07840 818 316
For more information about the range of services that Carers Support Centre provides, visit their website: www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk