Derbyshire carers and people with disabilities are being urged to know their rights this Carers’ Rights Day with free drop in events around the county supported by leading social care provider The Disability Syndicate.
Derby-based The Disability Syndicate will be at events in Chesterfield Library and in the Market Hall in Derby on November 20 – Carers’ Rights Day – to help carers and those who are cared for to understand the wealth of support available.
Carers and people with disabilities are also being invited to drop into a free ‘carers’ clinic’ being run at Disability Direct in Pride Park between 10am and 1pm on the day.
The syndicate runs carers’ clinics every fortnight to help provide important signposting services as well as a listening ear.
At the Disability Syndicate stands in Chesterfield and Derby, carers will also get the opportunity to find out more about the UK’s only discount card just for the social care sector.
The Blue Sky Social Care Card was launched a year ago in the Houses of Parliament with the help of TV journalist Kate Garraway – who recently starred in The Celebrity Traitors – and Derby North MP Catherine Atkinson.
Fully verified and vetted, the card functions as an ID card recognising the vital role of unpaid carers for the first time.
It also allows carers to access a wide range of perks, such as discounts at Derby restaurants including Nicco’s, The Viceroy and House Boat.
The Disability Syndicate works with Derbyshire County Council to deliver high quality support services connected with direct payments – benefits paid straight to people who need carers or personal assistants to allow them to live independently in the community.
As well as that, the organisation provides a wealth of support aimed at the millions of paid and unpaid carers in the UK including free talking therapies, fortnightly carers’ clinics, welfare rights advice, wellbeing initiatives, signposting to local services and training.
Raj Johal, managing director of The Disability Syndicate, said: “We really hope that as many people living with disabilities and carers will take advantage of our free drop-in events that we are running round the UK to offer much-needed support this Carers’ Rights Day.
“There are so many people living in this country who are either living with disabilities and not accessing the practical support they would really benefit from, or who are providing care services – often unpaid – and not accessing their rights.
“This Carers’ Rights Day is all about helping people know what they are entitled to so we can all live in society with dignity, being properly recognised for the work we do and the lives we lead.”
Costing five pounds annually, there are now around 10,000 people in the UK who hold a Blue Sky Social Care Card.
Carers Rights Day aims to raise awareness of the rights to which the UK’s 5.8 million unpaid carers are entitled.
It is estimated that thousands of people become unpaid carers daily in the UK and many are unaware of their legal rights and the support available in benefits recognising their important role in society.
The Disability Syndicate will have a stand at Chesterfield Library on New Beetwell Street between 10.30am and 1pm on Thursday November 20. They will have a pop-up stall in Derby City Market Hall between 9.30am and 2pm on the day.
It is also providing information at events in London and Manchester on the same day.
Anyone who would like to check out the Carers’ Rights Days events can pop in or let The Disability Syndicate know in advance. For more, email [email protected], call 0333 034 1101 or contact the team by filling out the form on its webpage: https://blueskybrokers.org/carerssupport/
This story was written and shared on behalf of The Disability Syndicate by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
