New financial package announced to support Wales’ unpaid carers and the work they do

£7 million of funding aiming to support unpaid carers and the work they do across Wales has been announced.

The financial package will allocate £5.5 million to local authorities to provide targeted support to unpaid carers, including £1.25m for the Carers Support Fund, which last year helped almost 6500 unpaid carers to cope with the financial impact of Covid 19.

£20,000 has been allocated to fund online mental wellbeing support sessions and £230,000 for the Family Fund to support over 600 further low-income families with seriously ill or disabled children.

Welsh Government previously committed £3 million in 2021-22 to allow more carers to take a break from their caring role, bringing the total additional funding support for unpaid carers this year to £10 million.

So far this money has helped to fund the creation of a Respitality scheme in Gwynedd to work with the holiday sector to offer cheaper holidays to unpaid carers, the remodelling of day care for older people in Gwynedd which includes paying for flexible short care packages for carers and the individuals they support and a six week programme of wellbeing counselling to help support carers with personal stresses and anxieties in Conwy.

£40,000 has also been invested in a Carers’ Outreach in Conwy to provide breaks, days out, weekends away in Conwy for carers over 18 an £32,000 to run a pilot scheme for parent carers to choose practical support which meets their needs in Swansea.

An unpaid carer attending a dementia support group in Gwynedd said: “The Dementia Carers Group has provided me with companionship, moral support when feeling a bit lost whilst looking after my husband who has mixed dementia.

“I have made friends through the meetings, have improved my qualities as a carer, with practical advice received, not only from other carers, but the amazing guest speakers who have guided us all with their knowledgeable advice on all practical matters relevant to being a carer.

“Tuesday mornings are a lot less lonely since I joined the group.”

Commenting on the funding as part of today’s Carers’ Rights Day Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said: “The physical and emotional impact of caring can be overwhelming.

“We share concerns that many are at breaking point due to the additional pressures put upon them from the pandemic.

“Thousands of unpaid carers have been supported since the start of the pandemic but it its vital we continue to help unpaid carers cope with the emotional and financial impact of COVID-19.”

“The funding announced today shows how much we appreciate the army of unpaid carers in Wales who have gone above and beyond to care for family or friends and our commitment to support carers to have a life beyond their caring role.”

“Unpaid carers play a vital role in our society, helping reduce pressures on the health service by ensuring people can return from and stay out of hospital. Their extraordinary work and contribution to social care is part of a £42m package to support the NHS winter plan.”