Carers Week is a great time to stop and reflect on the incredible achievements of Carers throughout Kent. I am always staggered when I meet people, who day in, day out, are quietly getting on with a role which so often goes unnoticed.
Carers are often too busy caring to make a fuss about it, but think about all the things they are juggling – caring for a friend or family member and often also bringing up a family, holding down a job, and all the things that go with everyday life. It’s no wonder that by the time they are referred to Crossroads they are often completely exhausted.
That’s why it’s so important that Carers get a break. We’re not talking a fortnight in the Bahamas, we’re talking three or four hours every week just to recharge the batteries a bit. Doesn’t sound like much to ask, does it? Yet often even this is impossible for many Carers.
At Crossroads we believe Carers deserve breaks and we are committed to making sure they can get them through providing high quality replacement care, as well as a range of other kinds of support.
Here in Kent, there is a good track record of Carers short breaks being provided, funded by Kent County Council. However there have been moves towards changing the way these are provided, so we’re worried these might not be there in the future. That’s why we’ve launched our #KentCarersNeedBreaks campaign. You can follow us through the next few months on Twitter at @Crossroads_Kent and also on Facebook.
Please support us - retweet and like our posts, and comment to say what breaks mean to you in your own words. Having your support will help us show how critical breaks are for carers, so that they are available for Carers for years to come.
If you’re a Carer, happy Carers Week. Whether you’re able to take a break or not, we are thinking of you. Thank you for everything that you do - we think you’re amazing.