• Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
• Thursday June 1 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Charity gears up for Carers Week with support from Pebley Beach

Swindon businesses are supporting Swindon Carers Centre during Carers Week next week (5-11 June), as new figures show the staggering savings made to the economy by unpaid carers.

Swindon Carers Centre is fundraising for Carers Week via an online raffle. Tickets are available to purchase now and cost £1 each. Prizes include hampers of goodies, beauty vouchers, restaurant vouchers and leisure vouchers.

These have been donated by local businesses Lalbagh Indian Cuisine, Kay’s Beauty Salon, Franclin’s Hair and Beauty, Lil Beauty, Kutting Chai, Swindon Wildcats Ice Hockey, Delta Tennis Centre and Barnes Coaches.

The charity’s fundraising efforts during Carers Week are, once again, sponsored by motor dealer Pebley Beach Hyundai and Suzuki Swindon which will match fund donations up to £1,000.

Unpaid carers in Swindon save the local economy £592 million a year. This figure, recently highlighted in a report by Carers UK, is up by 43 per cent on the previous decade and is the largest increase in the South West of England.

It shows that the role unpaid carers play, looking after a family member, partner or friend, is integral to supporting our often-stretched health and social care system.

Alongside its fundraising raffle, Swindon Carers is also holding its annual Walk A Mile event at The Swindon Hub, 36 The Parade, Swindon on Saturday, June 10.

The charity would like to see as many people as possible at this awareness event to show support for unpaid carers. Registration for the short circular walk, which is free to attend, is open from 10.30am with walkers setting off at 11am.

Data from the 2021 Census shows that the number of hours that people spend caring for someone has increased. In Swindon, more people are caring for 20 to 50 hours a week and over 50 hours a week.

Swindon Carers Centre aims to improve the wellbeing of people with caring responsibilities so that they can live a healthy, fulfilling life alongside their caring role. Services available to carers include its Carers Support Line, 1:1 support, welfare and benefits advice, and activities to give carers a break from their caring role.

Susanna Jones, CEO at Swindon Carers Centre, said: “The latest figures from Carers UK show that unpaid carers in Swindon save our economy a staggering £592 million.

“We also know, from the 2021 Census data, that carers are caring for longer hours than ever before – an indication that they are under increasing pressure due to the challenges of complex caring roles.

“Our Walk A Mile event is a brilliant opportunity for the Swindon community to show carers that they are visible, valued and recognised for the work they do. We would welcome people to support them by joining us at Walk A Mile or helping us fundraise by playing our online raffle.

“We would also like to thank our event sponsor, Pebley Beach, and local businesses for supporting unpaid carers by donating prizes for our raffle.”

Pictured: Swindon Carers Centre team members preparing for Carers Week and Walk A Mile