Supporting Carers Week

Am I a carer?

A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a parent, partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental health issues, substance misuse or disability.

Carers help with personal things like getting someone dressed, turning them in their sleep, helping them to the loo, helping them move about or administering their medication. Carers also help with things like shopping, laundry, cleaning, cooking, filling in forms or managing money.

Did you know?

There are around seven million carers in the UK, that’s one in ten people and this is rising. Three in five people will be carers at some point in their lives in the UK.

Based on Census figures there are estimated to be at least 376,000 young adult carers in the UK aged 16–25.

Young adult carers appear to be four times more likely to have to drop out of their college or university course than other students. Additionally, 45% of young adult carers reported that they have mental health problems.

The employment rate for carers is at 67% (72% of men and 62% of women); over half of those who are not working say that they want to do so. Nearly one in eight workers is a carer and one in five carers gives up employment to care.

Leeds Beckett Carers Network

We are currently looking to reignite the Leeds Beckett Carers Network that was supported by Carers Leeds in the new academic year.

The Network is our opportunity to ensure that we are fully supporting all our students and colleague carers. We want to provide a safe, confidential and supportive environment in which to discuss issues relating to carers’ needs and situations, and signpost help that is available. Or, simply just provide a space away for some ‘you time’.

If you would like to be involved, we want to hear from you!

Please contact equality@leedsbeckett.ac.uk and let us know if you would like to come and join us. Or get in touch with our Equality & Inclusion Manager, Craig Downing, directly at C.M.Dowing@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

You can also find details of the support we offer on our Equality and Inclusion pages.

Carers Leeds

The vision of Carers Leeds is to enhance the quality of life for working carers in Leeds through the provision of advice and information for them and those that employ them.

If you would like to access guidance and support from Carers Leeds, more information can be found on their website: www.carersleeds.org.uk.

Carers Leeds is holding a conference on Wednesday 10 June aimed at senior leaders and organisational decision-makers.

The conference aims to look at how working carers have been impacted by Coronavirus and how employers can consider their needs moving forwards. More information is available on the website: https://www.carersleeds.org.uk/event/leeds-employers-one-step-ahead/