Have your Say on Carers Today!

CARERS have the chance to contribute to a major piece of research by Gateshead Carers Association, which aims to influence policy and services.

 The survey aims to find out, who Gateshead’s carers are, who they care for, what issues they face in their daily lives and what services they value.

Information from the survey will support carers across Gateshead in a number of ways. It will strengthen GCA’s ability to campaign on their behalf and help to attract funding to run new services for carers.

The survey asks carers a wide range of questions – from who they care for to what services they provide and access on a regular basis.

It also asks how caring has affected carers’ health, finances and quality of life – and how the current recession and plans to cut public spending affect them.

Carers completing the survey have the chance to be entered into a prize draw to win £50-worth of shopping vouchers.

Judith Dunn, GCA’s Campaigns and Development Officer, said: “The current GCA survey updates and broadens the work carried out as part of the 2006 Gateshead Carers Survey.

“It is estimated that 5.7 million people in Britain – and more than 20,000 people in Gateshead -  are carers.

“Many of those people are “hidden” carers. They don’t identify themselves as carers even though they provide support to a relative or friend who is ill, disabled, elderly, in need of emotional support or has a substance misuse problem.

“It is only by identifying and talking to carers in the community that GCA can truly provide the services, which carers value, and help to influence the policy makers, who can make a difference to their daily lives.”

GCA is also undertaking an in-depth survey into carers’ household income and expenses.

For more information and a copy of the surveys, please call Judith Dunn on (0191) 490 0121 or email judith.dunn@gatesheadcarers.com.

To complete the survey, log on to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/gatesheadcarerssurvey2010 or www.gatesheadcarers.com

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NOTES TO EDITORS.........................For further information, contact: Judith Dunn, Campaigns and Development Officer,  Tel. 0191 490 0121 or  Email: judith.dunn@gatesheadcarers .com

Gateshead Carers Association exists to relieve the stresses experienced by carers in Gateshead by providing information, advice and support services to carers, to help them and their dependents.

Established in 1996, Gateshead Carers Association is a registered charity.

Its aim is to support, inform and represent carers. GCA has a particular role in ensuring that the voice of carers is heard, and that carers are able to influence the development of policy and services.

GCA’s current activities include running a number of interest groups including art, craft, photography and weight control, providing information and advice services and the Carers Action Forum.