Thank you, carers, for all that you do

Sue Honour is Chair of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Carers’ Partnership Board. 

The Board helps improve services for carers across our area and involves local people in decision making on health and adult social care.

And in a Carers' Week message to the 75,0000-plus carers across our area, Sue paid tribute to their dedication and hard work in caring for those who are ill, have disabilities, are elderly and frail, or have mental health illness or drugs and alcohol addiction.

A family carer herself – supporting her husband and daughter – Sue knows just what a tough role it is: physically tiring, mentally exhausting and often very lonely and isolating.

The coronavirus pandemic has made that role even tougher because of social distancing measures and all the changes to services and support.

Getting help for "hidden" carers

This Carers' Week, the theme is Making Caring Visible. It’s all about highlighting the hidden carers in our communities and making sure they get identified and receive the help and support they need to keep on caring.

“Many people don’t see themselves as carers,” agreed Sue.  “It’s not a label you put on yourself. You think of yourself as a partner, wife, mother, father, husband or son. 

“So if you don’t recognise yourself as a carer, you don’t know what a valuable contribution you’re making.

“You also won’t know that you are entitled to help – from financial support through benefits like DLA or PIP, assessments for social care services or from local support groups that can help you take a break and put yourself first for once.

“When things got really tough, I felt like getting in the car and just driving away from it all. Of course you would never, ever, abandon the people you care for - but wanting to escape just felt so overwhelming.

“For me, finding a support group was a lifeline. I did feel nervous going the first time and I also felt guilty about taking time away. But actually, it felt good to be recognised for keeping my family safe and looked after. 

“Being able to share experiences with others was huge.  It felt a safe place, too, where people would understand if you got upset and cried.”

Making services better for everyone 

For the last three years, Sue has chaired the Carers' Partnership Board which gives people with experience of using adult social care services a say on current and future care.

And she invited any carers who might like to get involved to get in touch with Healthwatch, which supports the Board.

"Being part of it has been a real help to me personally," said Sue. "But it's also been really rewarding to use my caring experience to make change happen and improve services for others across our area.

"Having that voice and seeing the local councils really listening to us and making real change for carers has been really satisfying.

"If you are a carer, your experience is very much wanted - please consider joining us," said Sue.