Council pilots new digital service to offer online support for unpaid carers
Monday, 20 December 2021
We have teamed up with digital provider Mobilise to pilot a new service to connect unpaid carers.
The three-month pilot project started on 29 November and will use social media and digital marketing to help to find and identify unpaid carers, connecting them immediately with others in a similar position, and providing relevant, timely support. The service is free.
Mobilise will work with the existing carers support services provided by Carers in Bedfordshire and Central Bedfordshire Council, offering a range of online support, from regular contact through emails, guide to caring e-course to ‘virtual cuppas’ and even individual support calls - seven days a week.
Around 30,000 people in Central Bedfordshire – that’s around 10 per cent of the local population – are thought to be unpaid carers.
Councillor Carole Hegley, Executive Member for Adult Social Care at Central Bedfordshire Council, said:
Many residents who provide unpaid care do not see themselves as carers because they are simply doing what they can for a relative, a friend or a neighbour who needs them because of their disability or illness. By connecting carers, we can ensure they are supported, particularly during the difficult winter months, and can continue to provide their crucial care. Mobilise is a great way for people to connect and receive support from others who can relate to their similar and shared experiences.
Suzanne Bourne, Co-founder and Head of Carer Support at Mobilise, stated:
There are carers out there who may need advice who are not currently accessing it. Creating a Mobilise carer peer support network in Central Bedfordshire will see an improvement in their wellbeing. Carers are less likely to reach breakdown and require emergency assistance.
The Mobilise service is free for residents of Central Bedfordshire.