Gateway to better times for Inverclyde's carers
An exciting new service to support Inverclyde’s unpaid carers launches on Wednesday 1st May.
The Carers Gateway Inverclyde will offer those who care for a loved one an expanded range of services, including specialist advice, tailored support, access to breaks and activities, and a new digital portal offering carers support 24-hours a day.
The Gateway will also offer dedicated support to Inverclyde’s young carers.
A key aspect of the new service is an increased focus on community-based support for unpaid carers. While the Carers Gateway will have facilities for carers in Greenock town centre, much of the support will be provided locally in communities and schools, making them easier to access.
Fraser Bedwell, Chief Executive of Unity, the charity running the Carers Gateway, said: “After many months of planning we’re delighted to launch the Carers Gateway Inverclyde. Unity has been providing support to unpaid carers in North and South Ayrshire for more than 20 years and helping adults with learning disabilities in Inverclyde for nearly as long.
"We therefore know the local area well and understand the needs of carers, allowing us to quickly expand the strong network of support that is already available across Inverclyde."
He continued: “Our aims for the service are pretty simple – to help more carers, in more places and in more ways. A recent census found that there were more than 8000 carers in Inverclyde but only around a quarter are known so a key focus will be on reaching and supporting the huge population of hidden carers.
"As well as continuing to support the carers who have been identified, our community delivery model and partnership approach means we will reach out to those who don’t consider themselves a carer or who face barriers to accessing the support they need and deserve.”
The Carers Gateway will shortly launch a new digital portal where carers can create their own self-help plans, tailored to their specific needs and containing hyper-localised information and signposting.
A similar system has been introduced by Unity in North Ayrshire and in the first six weeks alone has identified more than 150 new carers who are now benefitting from support from the Carers Gateway service there.
The portal will allow carers to access support 24 hour a day, 365 days a year. Unity also plans to play an active role in campaigning for legislative changes at a local and national level to benefit all carers.
Mr Bedwell explained: “Unity now supports unpaid carers from Kilmacolm to Ballantrae and that gives us a strong collective voice that local and national government cannot ignore. The value of the support provided by unpaid carers in Scotland is a staggering £13.1billion so their impact cannot be overstated. Carers do this selflessly but they need support and for barriers to be removed to help them sustain their caring responsibilities.
"We are working closely with the Carers Trust, Carers Scotland and Shared Care Scotland on a number of important campaigns that will benefit all carers in Inverclyde."
Councillor Robert Moran, chair of the Inverclyde Integration Joint Board (IJB) – the organisation that oversees local health and social care functions delegated to it by the council/health board and delivered by the HSCP, said: “This is a new chapter for carers in Inverclyde and I am pleased that there will be continuity of service, knowledge and expertise with the staff team from the Carers Centre transferring to the new Carers Gateway Inverclyde.
“This new service will have an increased focus on community-based support for unpaid carers and have a bigger outreach with support provided locally in communities and schools.
"With so many carers out there in Inverclyde doing vital, important work, it’s crucial that they receive the support they need and deserve and this is what Unity promises to do.
“I wish them every success going forward.”
Inverclyde Council’s Carers Champion, Councillor John Crowther, added: “Carers play a vital role in our community and it is a role which is often unrecognised.
“It is so important carers are helped in whatever way they need whether that’s to get some respite, accessing benefits or just emotional support to share their experiences with others.
“It is important the carers who currently receive support will continue to do so and that there is continuity and that has happened with the staff from the carers centre transferring to the new service.”
The Carers Gateway will operate initially from premises in Victoria House, Greenock alongside other third sector organisations and will move into new premises in West Stewart Street in June.
The Carers Gateway Inverclyde can be contacted on 01475 602700 or online at the link in the right hand column.