Carers in Wiltshire being boosted with new online service
It's open to anyone in a caring role - whether officially recognised or not
Support for unpaid carers in Wiltshire has been given a boost thanks to the launch of a new online service.
The new Carer Friendly Wiltshire service is available to anyone supporting a friend or family member, even if they're not officially recognised as a carer.
It's been made possible through a collaboration between Wiltshire Council, the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board and Forward Carers.
It includes a 24/7 chat function and the chance to speak to a carers coach to help with the caring journey.
The service features resources for carers of all ages, even those as young as 10 years old, such as videos, events calendars, a benefits calculator and virtual support groups.
It also allows carers to carry out an online wellbeing check, self-help plan and contingency plan to make sure all aspects of their role have been taken into account, so they can avoid burn out.
Cllr Jane Davies, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "We want our unpaid carers to feel supported to be able to enjoy life and achieve their goals and ambitions while they are caring.
"We are ensuring the face-to-face support continues but also there will be online help 24/7 so unpaid carers know they are not alone and they have a network to reach out to."
Tough to get help in busy days
Forward Carers Programme Manager, Holly Pyke, told Greatest Hits Radio it can be difficult for carers to access support during the day.
She said: "Most unpaid carers are providing support around managing finances, shopping, housework, all of those kind of things for a parent, sibling, or a child.
"They might themselves be working, so to access services that are open within working hours might be a real challenge for them."
The online service they've created for carers in Wiltshire allows them to access it around the clock, whenever they have the opportunity to do so.
Ms Pyke said: "That could be in the middle of the night when everyone else is asleep, and that's your moment to just be quiet and think about what support you need and what services you would like to engage with."
Vital support for young carers
She added that its vital the service supports young carers, offering them a place to find information relevant to them, as the role has a massive impact on daily life - as she knows from personal experience.
"You don't necessarily always provide care in the same way that maybe another parent in your family might be providing care.
"The way that you're able to socialise, engage with education and your identity really is very different from your peers," she said.
She added that young carers need help building and managing their emotional resilience.
"Being a kid can be challenging, Being a teenager is definitely very challenging.
"Having to navigate that on top of providing care for people around you can be really daunting and overwhelming at times. So to have that emotional resilience is really important."