Speaker Beth Sawyers 28th October 2022 – Carers Bucks

Club welcomed Beth Sawyers, A Fund Raiser from Carers Bucks paying a second visit by the Charity, to refresh members on the work being carried out by the charity and the nature of activities to which previous donations have contributed.

Beth explained that the charity exists to provide support to unpaid carers in Buckinghamshire, such individuals being anyone who looks after a loved one.  This includes children from age 5 looking after parents, youngsters supporting disabled siblings and adults supporting their spouses. What surprised members was Beth’s reporting that there are 52000 unpaid carers in Bucks known to the charity, of which 1300 are young carers.

The support provided includes information on where further help can be found, the organisation of support groups where carers can meet and gain reassurance from others facing similar challenges, and respite care to enable carers to have a break away from their role whilst a paid care worker found and funded by the charity fills the care gap.

As young carers were found to have different needs from other older groups, separate group activities have been established whereby the young people can socialise together.  It became very clear from Beth’s talk, including a video produced with a cast of young carers, that some young people awake in the morning to the task of finding breakfast for the family, possibly including an incapable parent, dressing siblings ready for school, attending school themselves, possibly shopping on the way home, and then feeding the family an evening meal before attempting homework – not occasionally but every day!

Staff within the charity also provide staff training within schools and participate in assemblies. All with the objective of creating awareness amongst all school children that some of their peers experience a very different home life to what may be termed “normal”.

The charity sought help in different forms – evidently funding the organisation of days out for carers who may not otherwise leave the confines of their home and residential stays for respite breaks.

Members questioned whether charities such as Bucks Carers were necessary due to a shortfall in the provision by the State and sought detailed costing of some of the services provided. The point was made that should Club consider making a donation the preference would be to fund a specific activity rather than contribute to the Charity’s general operational income. 

For more information visit  https://carersbucks.org