www.carers.org

We CareWorking together to reach and support carers

Making life easier for carers

positively influencing policy

seasonal sandWiches raise funds for young carers

February 2011

Issue 3

www.carers.org

An introduction from our Chief Executive

Inside this issue

Welcome to We Care, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers’ magazine. This is the third issue of the magazine and I am very happy to say that it is growing from strength to strength.

We have seen many achievements since our last issue. One particular highlight for me has been The Princess Royal Trust for Carers’ Annual Network Conference held last November when we brought together almost 200 staff from The Trust and The Network of Carers’ Centres to meet, gain new knowledge and exchange information. This was the 17th year of the Conference and I can honestly say that I thought this was the best one yet.

The first was back in April 1994. It was my second day as Chief Executive of North Tyneside Carers’ Centre and at that time there were 20 Carers’ Centres in The Network. We now have a raft of policies and The Network has grown to 144 members. I can’t help feeling a certain amount of pride and delight at just how far we have all come. I know that Ian Robertson, our former Chair, would have been so proud of how the Conference was delivered.

I take this opportunity to welcome Ray Robertson as our new Chair. Ray has more than 30 years experience working with the Bank of Scotland and has established her own financial consultancy business Betchworth Consulting Ltd. She is also involved in consultancy work with Sheffield United Plc., is Chief Operating Officer for the software development company Gextech Holdings Ltd. and is a Director on the board of FairBriar (UK) Ltd.

Her experience in banking, management and business development will be of enormous benefit to The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and I’m looking forward to working with her to continue our efforts to ensure that carers are recognised, valued and able to maximise their quality of life.

Thank you for all of your valuable feedback regarding We Care. It is your magazine and your opinion matters. Please help us to improve We Care by kindly taking a few moments out of your busy schedule to complete the enclosed survey so that we can make the magazine bigger and better. We’ll even pop your name in the draw for the chance to win some delicious treats donated by one of our corporate partners.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support. Here’s looking towards an even more successful year in 2011.

Carole Cochrane Chief Executive The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

Chief Executive Carole Cochrane presents to Carers’ Centres attending the Annual Network Conference.

2 Introduction

3 Young adult carers need help too

3 Seasonal sandwiches raise funds for young carers

3 New-look website

4 Supporter profile

4 Eat cake for carers

4 Encouraging multi partnership work to prevent crises for carers

4 Give as you live

5 New partnerships for older families

5 A carer’s story

6 Receiving non financial support from companies

6 Scottish fundraising at its best

6 Carers battle poverty and depression

6 Twitter party success

7 Making life easier for carers

7 Reaching the most vulnerable carers

8 Positively influencing policy in 2010

9 Celebrities dress up for The Big Reveal

10 We Care talks to Coronation Street star Steve Jackson

11 Your feedback

12 The Trust in the news

We CareWorking together to reach and support carers

2

www.carers.org

We are very excited to announce that our website, www.carers.org, has undergone a full redesign.

It’s fresh, colourful and most importantly it’s easier to find what you’re looking for! We also have lots of new features for carers, people interested in carers’ issues and for people who want to support The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. As well as chat with carers in our discussion boards, carers can now find other carers in their local area. People interested in carers’ issues can go to our easy to read news feed, and can also find out how to get involved.

Young adult carers need help too We have launched a new chat room slot on our website for young adult carers. The slot is aimed at (but not limited to) carers between the ages of 16 and 25 and will take place every Thursday on our website, www.carers.org, between 7pm and 8pm.

Young adult carers have different needs to both adult and young carers as they are somewhere between the two. They have the same issues as all young people their age, such as thinking about college/university or getting a job, staying at home or moving out, but they have the added weight of thinking about the needs of the person they look after too.

If you are a young adult carer, or know someone who is then why not let them know about this opportunity to chat to others who understand their caring role. There will also be a member of our Online Support Team present the first Thursday of each month.

“I’m Charney and I’m 19. I care for my mum who has severe epilepsy and muscle pain,” wrote one carer on our discussion board. “I tried joining a site for young carers, but they removed me because I’m over 18. All I’m

New-look website

The new chat room slot will benefit carers from 16 to 25 years old.

after is to find people around my age who are going through the same sort of thing, just to have a chat, but it seems impossible to find anyone its so hard...”

Seasonal sandwiches raise funds for young carersWe have been working alongside The Co-operative Group to raise some vital funds in support of young carers as part of the retailer’s ‘Inspiring Young People’ campaign.

The Group launched three own-brand Christmas sandwiches in November and when purchased, 10p from each sale went towards The Princess Royal Trust for Carers’ specialist website for young carers, YCNet.

The initiative has raised a staggering amount of more than £35,500 which will be used to provide young carers with support at the UK’s only dedicated website and online support service for children and young people under the age of 19 who are carers.

The Co-operative Group spokesperson, Helen Shaw said, “We’re proud to be raising both money and awareness for this vital service, and this initiative is a great example of The Co-operative’s ongoing commitment to young people.”

3

www.carers.org

In this issue, we ask you to help us improve the magazine by taking a few moments to complete our survey (enclosed in this mailout) and tell us what you want to read in We Care. In return, we’ll give you the opportunity to win some delicious prizes donated by Cakehead.

Cakehead is a small, family-run company, specialising in delicious traybakes, traditional cakes and premium biscuits which they have been distributing across the UK and Europe for ten years.

This June, Cakehead is launching its brand to the general public and we are very pleased to announce that the company has chosen to enter into a long-term partnership with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, pledging a proportion of its profits to help our work with carers.

“We are incredibly excited about supporting this extremely worthwhile cause”, Chris Finnegan, Cakehead’s Managing Director commented. “We look forward to becoming actively involved in specific projects, and hope that we can bring some benefit to the valuable work that The Princess Royal Trust for Carers carries out so tirelessly.”

Encouraging multi partnership work to prevent crisis for carersWe have recently completed a two year project called ‘Preventing Crisis for Carers’ to enable The Princess Royal Trust Carers’ Centres to work with local statutory partners and other centres within their health board areas, to identify carers at the earliest possible stage and promote the development of good working practices around processes, such as hospital discharge planning and carer’s assessments.

The aim of the project, which was made possible thanks to generous funding from the Moffat Charitable Trust, was to prevent carers from reaching crisis point by promoting and facilitating the development of robust local working practices and protocols, with carers at the very heart as key partners.

The project demonstrates how funders’ money can be put to practical purposes with great results. An independent evaluation of the project by Glasgow Caledonian University found that the Moffat Project led to the identification of almost 3,000 new carers and the training of almost 4,000 healthcare professionals in carer awareness.

Florence Burke, our Director for Scotland, said, “This is a clear demonstration of how relatively small investments can have big results. It proves that employing carer support workers in hospitals can benefit not only carers through ensuring they got the support they needed, but also patients and hospital staff. As our population gets older, carers will play a critical and essential role in health care and we need to ensure they have the support they need right from the start. This is why continued investment in this service for carers should be provided by NHS Boards.”

Eat cake for carersSupporter profile The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is very fortunate to have the support of business woman Hilary Devey, founder and CEO of pallet distribution network Pall-Ex. Hilary not only provides annual pledges, her company also operates a ‘Penny-a-Pallet’ scheme, bringing a regular and reliable source of funding. To date, £100,000 has been raised to help carers across the UK.

Hilary also encourages her employees to take part in fundraising events to raise significant funds and generate media exposure on behalf of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. Most recently, she hosted a private fundraising dinner at her home in Staffordshire with our President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in attendance, raising more than £40,000.

Hilary has spoken about her own personal experience of caring for her son during his years of substance misuse, and fully understands the daily struggles faced by carers, such as isolation. Hilary has shown real drive and commitment to help improve the lives of carers across the UK.

Hilary Devey, CEO of Pall-Ex.

Give as you liveWe have launched a new way for all of our supporters who shop online to generate money for The Princess Royal Trust for Carers at the touch of a button.

By downloading the ‘Give as you Live’™ application on your computer, you could potentially raise up to £75 for carers. From flights to insurance to groceries, when you shop online with ‘Give as you Live’™ you pay the same price for the same products from your favourite websites.

To download the easy-to-use application, please go to www.carers.org/giveasyoulive 4

www.carers.org

Shirley, 42, cares for her daughter Maria.

New partnerships for older familiesOne of our key areas is to work with older carers and mutual carers. An older carer could be a parent or guardian who looks after their adult son or daughter with learning disabilities. A mutual carer is someone with learning disabilities who looks after an aging parent, a sibling or a partner.

Despite increasing national awareness of this group of carers, they remain largely hidden and their needs are not being investigated. This lack of information makes it difficult for services to argue for additional resources, especially in the current economic climate, and also means that there is little support for those who are working with them. In addition, people with learning disabilities may still be stigmatised and discriminated against and, as they are often the ones deemed in need of care, it can be difficult for others to accept that they may also be carers in their own right.

We want to help carers like Shirley, whose story is below. Shirley is 42, but with the population aging and people with learning disabilities and illness living longer, Shirley may still be caring for her daughter when she is 72. The numbers of older carers and mutual carers will continue to grow and we need to take action now.

We have therefore joined forces with carers with learning disabilities, and leading charities, including Mencap and Crossroads Care, to host the Carers with Learning Disabilities Network. For the first time ever we exhibited at the Learning Disability Today Exhibition in London last December. We also presented a joint statement to help organisations who help carers with learning disabilities to work together better and to help other people understand about the lives of carers with learning disabilities.

With further funding, we aim to continue finding and supporting older families and family carers with learning disabilities,

A carer’s storyShirley, 42, cares for her daughter Maria, 18.

“I care for our eldest daughter Maria, who is 18 and has a rare degenerative condition, as well as epilepsy. I do pretty much everything for her, from bathing to dressing her, spoon-feeding her at mealtimes to giving her her medication. She is doubly incontinent and so I end up changing and cleaning her anything up to six times a day. She’s becoming a big girl and it is becoming increasingly difficult to move her. We can’t carry her up the stairs anymore and have had to create a bedroom in the living room. I wash her in the downstairs toilet, which is obviously not ideal.

“I’ve had to give up my job to look after Maria full-time. My husband is the only bread-winner now. He is supportive, but I do feel some resentment that he still has the independence of a job. Plus, I am constantly worried about how this is all affecting our other daughter who is only 15.

“I discovered the website, www.carers.org, after having searched for advice on carers’ benefits. I had been feeling so trapped. It became the only thing that’s got me through the darkest times. Through the site I have talked to other carers who understand what I’m going through and who have felt the same way! It has been my saving grace.”

making services and information accessible to family carers with learning disabilities, providing people working with this group of carers with the appropriate training and resources, investigating whether generic or specific services (or a combination of both) are appropriate, and planning for the future.

“People with learning disabilities who are carers are a growing group – our biggest

problem is getting social services to acknowledge the situation and provide useful

support – often needing two different teams to work

together.”

Hillingdon Carers’ Centre, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

5

www.carers.org

Our latest ‘Ladies Lunch’ event has raised £26,000, which is a fantastic achievement. The annual event, which has raised more than £190,000 for The Princess Royal Trust for Carers over the years, took place in November in Glasgow.

The lunch was organised by Marion White, Chair of the Scottish Campaign Board (SCB) which supports both fundraising and profile-raising activities within Scotland. Marion has generously donated her time and money to The Trust for 12 years.

Television designer and interior designer John Amabile hosted the lunch which was followed by entertainment provided by stand-up comedian Janey Godley and cabaret artist Edward Reid.

John kindly hosted The Trust’s ‘Prêt a Portea’ fashion show which took place in October in Glasgow and was organised by Laura Gordon and the SCB. One hundred and fifty people formed the audience, as models showed off designs by world famous fashion house Jaegar.

Those attending had the opportunity to buy treats from the six pop-up shops, which included Wish4a, Chocolatier of Glasgow, Beautiful Handbags, Kureaa Besu and Blythswood Square Hotel and Spa. Up and coming singer Carrie Mac also performed three of her songs.

This fundraising event raised approximately £13,000 for The Trust which is a huge boost to our fundraising.

Scottish fundraising at its best

Many corporate partners of charities are, these days, identifying ways of providing support beyond the financial and are providing time and skills-set to benefit charities. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is grateful to have the corporate support of Accenture who has been playing a greater role in supporting The Trust, The Network of Carers’ Centres and carers.

We are very fortunate in that our relationship with Accenture has really developed. Not only did the company deliver a series of life-changing courses to carers, it then offered further training to The Trust and to The Network of Carers’ Centres.

As a result of a mentoring relationship with our Director of Operations, Accenture

Receiving non financial support from companies

Carers battle poverty and depression Last September, we launched a national campaign investigating the financial situations of carers and their families.

The results are harrowing and reveal that many carers are battling poverty and some are so depressed about their financial circumstances that they do not want to wake up in the morning.

Many of the carers surveyed have spent all of their savings to support the person they care for and fear they will lose their home. To cover basic living needs, some are borrowing at ‘loan shark’ rates or from family and friends. The added financial pressures are causing them to want to run away from their caring role, while some are turning to alcohol or drugs to cope.

gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by The Network. In today’s current economic climate, the major challenge faced by Carers’ Centres is that of bidding for tenders and so Accenture developed a training course for members of The Network. Following the first of these courses, feedback has been excellent and plans are in place to extend the courses. This is a fine example of successful corporate social responsibility and makes that difference that companies are so often looking to achieve.

Twitter party successWe held our first ever Twitter event in December, when Twitter users came together to discuss young carers and their role in society. The party was a fantastic success, lasted for two hours and generated more than 200 “tweets”.

Dementia UK, Parkinsons UK, Carers Direct, CyberMentors, BeatBullying and other organisations joined Carers’ Centres, young carers workers, (ex) young carers and politicians to raise awareness.

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging site and “tweets” made by users are archived publicly with posts “retweeted” to respective followers. The potential, therefore, of one piece of information reaching other users goes beyond the given duration of a party. ”Tweets” from the party reached an audience of more than 20,000 in the first day alone.

Why not follow us on Twitter at @carerstweets?6

www.carers.org

Making life easier for carers

Reaching the most vulnerable young carersIn our first issue back in May 2010, we told you how Comic Relief had donated £1.5m to The Princess Royal Trust for Carers so that we could identify projects helping those young carers who are most vulnerable.

As a result of the funding, we set up a decision panel comprising The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Comic Relief and the National Young Carers Coalition, (the latter having been previously formed by The Trust and other charities supporting young carers), to consider more than 100 applications from third sector projects for grants of up to £72,000 over three years.

We have now awarded nearly £1.1 million to 15 projects to reach out to young carers who most need our support, such as: those caring for an adult relative with a progressive and/or terminal illness; those affected by parental mental ill-health and

alcohol or drug dependency of siblings in rural areas; those between 16-24 years old who need our help to access age-appropriate services; those of African origin who are looking after a person with HIV. The valuable funding will also assist the development of existing programmes so that they are culturally appropriate for young carers from black and minority ethnic communities.

Full details of the funded projects are available at www.carers.org.

Carers often face stress, isolation and depression daily in their caring role. Some form of respite can be invaluable in maintaining health and well-being.

That’s why The Princess Royal Trust for Carers helps carers and their families directly through our grants programme. We helped more than 600 carers and their families last year, by giving the opportunity to take a break from their caring role. Carers took part in recreational and pampering days, social outings and short breaks to have some time to themselves, recharge their

batteries and come back to their caring role healthier in mind and in body through our ‘Carers Break’ fund.

Helping carers and their families with the cost of transport and equipment to carry out the most basic of tasks in the home is severely underrated. So we enabled carers to buy washing machines, fridge freezers and cookers to help make their lives easier.

We help carers of all ages, some of whom are more vulnerable than others. Young carers often face barriers to their education and development due to their caring role

Thanks to Comic Relief, we can reach out to young carers who need our help the most.

With your support, we can help improve the quality of life for carers like Leanne.

Leanne* is the primary carer for her daughter Jade* who was born with hydrocephalus (also know as ‘water on the brain’) and a visual impairment. Jade sadly suffered a severe seizure resulting in permanent brain damage. Leanne finds it very difficult to leave Jade alone, even for a moment, because of the severity of her seizures. She often sleeps on the floor, taking it in turns with her 13 year old daughter Laura* to supervise Jade throughout the night. We awarded Leanne with £200 from the ‘Carers Relief’ fund to buy a video monitor system so that she can see and hear Jade when she is out of the room. Leanne now has some piece of mind and doesn’t worry as much when she leaves Jade alone for a couple of minutes to make a cup of tea, take a shower or spend quality time with her other daughter, simple tasks that she was struggling to do before receiving help.

*Please note that the names have been changed to protect identities.

and so we helped carers under 18 to explore talents, interests and skills through our ‘Explore More!’ programme. Some received help to pay for additional tuition classes when they had fallen behind in classes.

We reach carers and their families directly through The Network of Carers’ Centres. Together, we have learnt that making life that little bit easier can make a huge difference to the quality of life of a carer. Read Leanne’s story below to see what a difference your donation can make.

7

www.carers.org

Carers and their families were high on the political agenda last year, as our Policy and Parliamentary Team lobbied politicians and parties across the UK in their bid to raise awareness of the issues affecting carers and to encourage change.

There has been a real need to make sure that carers are not forgotten, especially during this economic climate, particularly in England with the then forthcoming General Election and subsequent forming of the Coalition Government, and in Scotland as they prepare for the Parliamentary elections. Governments are making major cuts to public services across the UK and there are real concerns that local services for carers will be amongst those to go. This could have a devastating impact on carers of all ages who depend on these services for support. We have been keeping track of how The Network of Carers’ Centres is affected, making sure that the politicians know about the impact of cuts on the lives of carers and their families.

Our work is having a real impact. Our reports Tough Breaks for Carers and No Breaks for Carers had a direct influence on the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Parties as both pledged new policies on carers in the run up to the General Election last year. The Coalition Government then announced last December that £400m over four years would be made available to the NHS in England for carers’ breaks and other support. As a result of our recommendations, the Coalition Government has also instructed the NHS to work with local carers’ organisations to plan carers support and to publish these plans and budgets for local people to scrutinise.

We also requested that the NHS measure carers’ wellbeing to establish whether carers are being supported and to evaluate their caring situation. We are delighted that the NHS Outcomes Framework, subsequently published last December, has implemented this and the NHS will now be measured for its ability to help carers enjoy a quality

Positively influencing policy in 2010

of life that we all expect to have. Patient surveys in GP practices will include specific questions aimed at carers regarding their health and well-being. The NHS will now have to take an interest in the millions of friends and relatives who take on caring roles after discharge from hospital.

Furthermore, we are working alongside the Royal College of General Practitioners to develop e-learning modules about adult and young carers to help GPs with their continuing professional development. We are also looking at other ways to educate GPs on carers’ issues and the Government has announced support for this as part of the refreshed Carers Strategy published last November.

In Scotland, the Parliamentary elections will be taking place in May and we are going to be working hand-in-hand with The Network of Carers’ Centres and other national carers’ organisations within Scotland to make sure that carers remain at the forefront of party agendas and manifestos. We have met with the leaders of all of the major parties in Scotland and have now challenged Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), to ensure that the progress made by the current Scottish Government on carers’ issues is maintained.

We have also campaigned for the extension of Scotland’s Carer Information Strategy (CIS) funding which is due to end in March of this year. The funding consisted of £9m provided to local health boards over a period of three years. Up to one third reached The Network of Carers’ Centres. Its continuation is vital for Carers’ Centres as it allows them to expand on services, build and develop new services and develop local partnerships. This will benefit carers locally.

The Welsh Assembly Government is currently reviewing its Carers Strategy for Wales and, along with The Network of Carers’ Centres across Wales, we have highlighted key messages that we would like the revision to include. These include the value and purpose of Carers’ Centres, employment policies affecting carers, respite care, and help and information. At the time of going to print, the results of the revision had not been released and so watch this space for updates in the next issue of We Care.

Our work is far from complete, but we have so far kept carers in the policy agendas. Over the next few months, more information will be released on how social care services are to be funded and welfare benefits are to change. Our Policy and Parliamentary Team will be there to make sure that carers’ voices are heard.

We work to keep carers on the political agenda.

8

www.carers.org

Celebrities dress up for The Big RevealWe had the pleasure of the company of our President Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in September when she took time out of her busy schedule to attend the event of the year ‘The Big Reveal’.

International designer Alvin Loy wowed Her Royal Highness and an audience of 300 with his latest collection at the fashion show and gala dinner dance. Television personality Caprice modelled some of his creations and other well-known faces, including designer Jimmy Choo, Status Quo’s Rick Parfitt, presenters Vanessa Feltz and Jeremy Kyle, and model Samantha Fox all dressed up in their best frocks in support of carers, helping to raise more than £50,000 for our work across the UK. The evening was then closed with a stunning performance from ‘opera’s rat pack’ Tenors UnLimited.

Alvin gave a glittering show of his designs. Caprice showed her support by taking to the catwalk.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal meets celebrity supporters, including Jeremy Kyle and Sam Fox.

Fashion designer Jimmy Choo and his wife Rebecca enjoyed the show.

Eastenders’ star Lucy Benjamin with model Sam Fox.

Status Quo’s Rick Parfitt with wife Lyndsay. Television presenter Vanessa Feltz looked stunning in blue.

9

www.carers.org

We Care talks to Coronation Street star Steve Jackson We are very fortunate to have the support of television and film actor Steve Jackson.

You will have seen Steve, most recently, in Coronation Street as dustbin man Trevor Dean who goes on to have a love affair with ‘Underworld’ factory boss Carla Connor. Steve has also starred in Casualty, Extras, Pulling, Doctors, Clocking Off and Emmerdale.

No longer cleaning the cobbled streets of Weatherfield, Steve took time to catch up with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and let us know what he thinks are the key issues facing carers today.

You have starred in many of the UK’s favourite television shows, what has been your favourite acting experience?

I have had some nice roles over the years, but I will always remember a program I did back in the 1990s called The Cops. I played a police officer called Mike Thompson. It went out on BBC2 and was a very gritty late night drama set on a council estate in Northern England. It had a real cult following at the time and won the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) in the Best Drama Series category for two years running.

What did you think of the live tram crash episode to celebrate the Street’s 50th anniversary?

I watched it expecting at least a few mistakes, because I knew how nervous they all were. I was nervous just watching it, but they were amazing. I thought the acting was outstanding. You could tell there was a sense of togetherness which got them all through it.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love watching football and am a big fan of Sheffield Wednesday...for my sins. I like to keep fit by going to the gym most days and I’m also quite into Zen meditation which is the only way I know of finding inner peace.

Did you set any New Year’s resolutions? What do you hope to achieve in 2011?

Just to stay healthy in my body and mind really, which means keeping the right balance between working, socialising and fitness and meditation. Going out partying is great fun, but I am getting too old for it! I think it is important to try and be happy whatever life brings. There are always ups and downs, especially in the acting profession. I just try to enjoy life whatever the circumstances. It is all too easy to forget in today’s society that happiness is where we are now and not where we think we should be.

Are you currently working on any exciting projects?

I have recently finished filming a BBC drama called 32 Brinkburn Street. It should be on around March I think. I am also going back to Coronation Street in February for a short period.

What has motivated you to support The Princess Royal Trust for Carers?

I used to have a job as a support worker in both mental health and learning disabilities, so I have some experience of the kind of day a carer might have. The big difference of course is that I could go home at the end

of my shift and responsibility was shared throughout a team. I was keen to support The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, because I feel the work carers do is still largely unrecognised by the greater public.

What do you think are the key issues facing carers and how can The Princess Royal Trust for Carers help?

Loneliness, isolation, financial pressure and a lack of recognition for the amazing work they do. Of course many carers do it for love and not for ambition or recognition. To my mind this makes them the real heroes of society. They need support too though and this is why The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is so important. Simply having someone to listen on a regular basis can help so much. Being able to meet other people in the same boat at the Carers’ Centres throughout the UK means they don’t have to be isolated. The organisation also offers financial support as many of Britain’s carers have effectively slipped through the net with regard to government support.

Why should our readers keep supporting the work of The Trust?

There is a big gap in government funding for social care, especially when it takes place in peoples own homes. Many carers feel as though they have been left to fend for themselves. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers provides something that carers need more than anything else: support and understanding. It offers qualified health professionals and counsellors, activities, organised breaks and social opportunities for people who are otherwise very isolated, as well as financial support for those who have had to give up their jobs. Carers give compassion and support unconditionally. They need our support too.

Readers’ continued support and generosity will help hundreds of thousands of carers to cope, whether it’s making a donation, volunteering or just talking about caring, so that carers are not forgotten and receive the help they so desperately need and deserve.

10

www.carers.org

Dear Editor,

I am only too aware of the immense sacrifice children make at a great personal cost in caring for a family member. Having watched the ITV’s Tonight programme, it really brought it home for me, through seeing these sometimes very young children, the depth of love and determination they display.

Compare this with the greed of those at the top, in government, banks, etc., many of whom are all still hanging on to the money they have claimed illegally. Just think if they paid back the ill-gotten gains, what a difference it would make if used for carers as well as other charities.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your feedback and for your generous support of our work with young carers. Indeed, young carers are children and young people who often take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult. Often, they struggle with the worry of looking after a parent or sibling and can face barriers to their education and to socialising with other young people their age.

We were very fortunate that ITV chose to involve The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in the development of the television programme ‘Too Young to Care’ which aired on ITV1, 6th January at 7.30pm. Our involvement shows great testament to the quality of our staff and to our knowledge and skills.

Your feedbackDear Editor,

I care for my husband 24/7 without help or respite and finding www.carers.org was the best thing that happened for me.

I used to feel so alone, like nobody else could possibly know what it was like for me. I thought that surely nobody else was going through it too! Now I know that there are thousands of us, all going through much the same thing.

I can honestly say that I doubt I could continue caring without the help, support and friendships that I have found on www.carers.org. It’s invaluable.

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my dismay at the number of letters sent to me by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers asking for a donation. Though I do enjoy reading these updates, I tend to give to charity once or twice a year. Please update my details to reflect this.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your letter and continued support. We understand that it’s not possible to give a donation to every appeal that we send so please do not feel like you have to. In addition to We Care, the appeals also provide updates on how your donations help carers, encourage changes in government and inform you of the challenges carers encounter. If you would prefer to receive appeals at specific times of the year only or would like them to be sent via email, then please do not hesitate to contact us with your preferences.

Dear Editor,

Thank you for sending me We Care. The loss of your Chair Ian Robertson must leave an enormous gap and is extremely sad as he was so young. You must be feeling the loss greatly, as will be Ian’s family and everyone involved with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

I owe my local Carers’ Centre a tremendous debt of gratitude as they fought my case at a tribunal and won. Were it not for the centre and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, I would be in very different circumstances and would probably not have a flat of my own, so I am extremely grateful.

One of my close friends is the same age as Ian was. He is a full-time carer for his mother who has Alzheimer’s. I admire all he does. He has been a very dutiful son over the last seven years when it must have been very difficult to watch his mum’s gradual decline.

Good to learn you have Jules Hudson aboard. I enjoy his cheery disposition and he is an excellent presenter.

Dear Reader,

Thank you very much for your support and for your kind words. We are very pleased to hear that you have been supported by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and that your local Carers’ Centre has helped you.

Your friend may find our website www.carers.org helpful. It contains information on local services, discussion boards and chat rooms so that he can talk about his caring role with other carers.

What do you think? Do you have any feedback on a story in We Care or something to share with other supporters? Please email your letter to info@carers.org or address it to ‘The Editor’ at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, 14 Bourne Court, Southend Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8HD.

Editor

Emma Nobes

Editorial Team

Emma Baird, Kim Britten, Sonya Roberts, Sophia Smith

11

Carers are ordinary people doing something extraordinary. Each day they put aside their own lives to help someone unable to manage on their own, whether it’s their parent, partner, child, grandparent or even a close friend.

It can be an incredibly isolating experience. And it means they often don’t have the chance of a ‘normal’ life. Doing things the rest of us take for granted, like enjoying time to ourselves or a trip to the cinema, are simply not possible.

But The Princess Royal Trust for Carers helps to give them a little ‘normal’ time. Through our unique network of 144 Carers’ Centres we offer practical assistance, emotional support and campaign for change on their behalf.

Now we’re asking you to do something extraordinary, which will make a real and lasting difference to carers’ lives. By leaving a gift in your will we can continue to help ordinary people like Lucy to look after her mum – and look forward to a life of their own.

Lucy*, 17, cares for her mum, Elaine*, 42, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and depression.

Ordinary people. Extraordinary lives.

To fi nd out how your legacy can help peoplelike Lucy, request an information pack fromwww.carers.org/legacy or call 0844 800 4361.

Registered Charity Number SC015975

Because Caring Never Stops

*Please note identities have been changed in interest of privacy.

11101 PRTC Ad 210x297mm.indd 1 13/09/2010 13:13

Carers are ordinary people doing something extraordinary. Each day they put aside their own lives to help someone unable to manage on their own, whether it’s their parent, partner, child, grandparent or even a close friend.

It can be an incredibly isolating experience. And it means they often don’t have the chance of a ‘normal’ life. Doing things the rest of us take for granted, like enjoying time to ourselves or a trip to the cinema, are simply not possible.

But The Princess Royal Trust for Carers helps to give them a little ‘normal’ time. Through our unique network of 144 Carers’ Centres we offer practical assistance, emotional support and campaign for change on their behalf.

Now we’re asking you to do something extraordinary, which will make a real and lasting difference to carers’ lives. By leaving a gift in your will we can continue to help ordinary people like Lucy to look after her mum – and look forward to a life of their own.

Lucy*, 17, cares for her mum, Elaine*, 42, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and depression.

Ordinary people. Extraordinary lives.

To fi nd out how your legacy can help peoplelike Lucy, request an information pack fromwww.carers.org/legacy or call 0844 800 4361.

Registered Charity Number SC015975

Because Caring Never Stops

*Please note identities have been changed in interest of privacy.

11101 PRTC Ad 210x297mm.indd 1 13/09/2010 13:13

Carers are ordinary people doing something extraordinary. Each day they put aside their own lives to help someone unable to manage on their own, whether it’s their parent, partner, child, grandparent or even a close friend.

It can be an incredibly isolating experience. And it means they often don’t have the chance of a ‘normal’ life. Doing things the rest of us take for granted, like enjoying time to ourselves or a trip to the cinema, are simply not possible.

But The Princess Royal Trust for Carers helps to give them a little ‘normal’ time. Through our unique network of 144 Carers’ Centres we offer practical assistance, emotional support and campaign for change on their behalf.

Now we’re asking you to do something extraordinary, which will make a real and lasting difference to carers’ lives. By leaving a gift in your will we can continue to help ordinary people like Lucy to look after her mum – and look forward to a life of their own.

Lucy*, 17, cares for her mum, Elaine*, 42, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and depression.

Ordinary people. Extraordinary lives.

To fi nd out how your legacy can help peoplelike Lucy, request an information pack fromwww.carers.org/legacy or call 0844 800 4361.

Registered Charity Number SC015975

Because Caring Never Stops

*Please note identities have been changed in interest of privacy.

11101 PRTC Ad 210x297mm.indd 1 13/09/2010 13:13

Carers are ordinary people doing something extraordinary. Each day they put aside their own lives to help someone unable to manage on their own, whether it’s their parent, partner, child, grandparent or even a close friend.

It can be an incredibly isolating experience. And it means they often don’t have the chance of a ‘normal’ life. Doing things the rest of us take for granted, like enjoying time to ourselves or a trip to the cinema, are simply not possible.

But The Princess Royal Trust for Carers helps to give them a little ‘normal’ time. Through our unique network of 144 Carers’ Centres we offer practical assistance, emotional support and campaign for change on their behalf.

Now we’re asking you to do something extraordinary, which will make a real and lasting difference to carers’ lives. By leaving a gift in your will we can continue to help ordinary people like Lucy to look after her mum – and look forward to a life of their own.

Lucy*, 17, cares for her mum, Elaine*, 42, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and depression.

Ordinary people. Extraordinary lives.

To fi nd out how your legacy can help peoplelike Lucy, request an information pack fromwww.carers.org/legacy or call 0844 800 4361.

Registered Charity Number SC015975

Because Caring Never Stops

*Please note identities have been changed in interest of privacy.

11101 PRTC Ad 210x297mm.indd 1 13/09/2010 13:13

Carers are ordinary people doing something extraordinary. Each day they put aside their own lives to help someone unable to manage on their own, whether it’s their parent, partner, child, grandparent or even a close friend.

It can be an incredibly isolating experience. And it means they often don’t have the chance of a ‘normal’ life. Doing things the rest of us take for granted, like enjoying time to ourselves or a trip to the cinema, are simply not possible.

But The Princess Royal Trust for Carers helps to give them a little ‘normal’ time. Through our unique network of 144 Carers’ Centres we offer practical assistance, emotional support and campaign for change on their behalf.

Now we’re asking you to do something extraordinary, which will make a real and lasting difference to carers’ lives. By leaving a gift in your will we can continue to help ordinary people like Lucy to look after her mum – and look forward to a life of their own.

Lucy*, 17, cares for her mum, Elaine*, 42, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and depression.

Ordinary people. Extraordinary lives.

To fi nd out how your legacy can help peoplelike Lucy, request an information pack fromwww.carers.org/legacy or call 0844 800 4361.

Registered Charity Number SC015975

Because Caring Never Stops

*Please note identities have been changed in interest of privacy.

11101 PRTC Ad 210x297mm.indd 1 13/09/2010 13:13

Gra

phic

Des

igne

r Fl

ying

Kite

Over the last few months, we have continued to keep carers’ issues in the news. Here are some of our highlights:

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers’ ‘Broke and Broken’ campaign featured in The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mirror and The Sun. Carole Cochrane, Chief Executive, was interviewed on Daybreak, The Lorraine Kelly show and BBC Radio London. Gordon Conochie, Policy and Parliamentary Officer, was interviewed by BBC Radio News.

Carole’s response to the Comprehensive Spending Review appeared in Community Care sector magazine and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers’ ‘tweet’ in response to the Comprehensive Spending Review was ‘retweeted’ by BBC News Live feed.

Our launch of My Care with the Mental Health Foundation featured in the Daily Mirror and Carole Cochrane, was quoted. It

The Trust in the newswas also featured in the London Evening Standard and Black Mental Health UK.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers launched new survey results to show what Christmas is really like for young carers and these were covered in the Daily Mirror, Children and Young People Now, Wales Online and Yorkshire Post. It also appeared in international press like Top News USA and French Tribune.

The BBC focused on young carers as part of their ‘Kids Who Care’ news campaign. Young carers lead, Danni Manzi, acted as ambassador for The Trust and was interviewed on BBC Breakfast, BBC Newsround, ITV’s Tonight and various BBC Radio stations. The Trust was also mentioned in the national newspapers, such as the Guardian, The Independent and the Daily Express. We launched two short films to be shown in 1,800 GP surgeries across England to reach hidden carers.

Vice-President Pam Ferris featured in one of these. Trade magazine Third Sector covered the launch in their celebrity section where Pam was top of the list.

Lynn Williams, Policy Officer, was quoted in The Herald Scotland’s piece on the launch of Scotland’s Carers Manifesto. Moira Fraser, Director of Policy, commented on how carers will be confused by the Government’s new welfare plans and this appeared in Community Care magazine. The Daily Record in Scotland interviewed Florence Burke, Director of Scotland, and Third Force News also based in Scotland, interviewed Development Manager, Ann Allcoat.