Burnout Becoming a Problem for the Yorkshire Coast's Unpaid Carers

A Yorkshire Coast charity which supports unpaid carers says it is seeing an increase in the number of people hitting carers burnout.

Ali Cutler form Carers Plus Yorkshire says uncertainty around the future of benefits is adding to the pressure on unpaid carers.

"There's a huge amount of uncertainty and I think everybody's been impacted by the cost of living increases.

And I think carers certainly probably more so than many, there is that sort of fear around what's been discussed at the moment around changes to benefits and things like that, which can be a lifeline for many carers and the people that they care for. Carers are constantly having that sort of challenge around.

Accessing services. You know, Services get more stretched. It's more difficult with longer wait lists. We see more and more carers hitting carer burnout because they're having to do so much more to get the support for the person that they care for."

The proposed changes to disability benefits like PIP comes at the same time as many charities that support people with disabilities and those who care for them are also facing funding issues.

Careers Plus Yorkshire is marking it's 30th anniversary with a new fundraising campaign to help it continue providing support to unpaid careers in the local area.

Ali Cutler says the financial situation for may local charities is challenging.

"There's a real sort of, reduction in grant funding at the moment. A lot of grant funders are ending their funding or closing their funding, I think post COVID to look at priorities and things like that.

So it's, it is always a challenge and I think the more we can raise, the more we can offer people supporting them in, in, what's a really essential role that actually unpaid carers save this country millions of pounds in social care, so it's really important that we can support unpaid carers in their journey so that they can carry on supporting the cared for that they look after."

 To mark its 30th year, Carers Plus Yorkshire has launched the £30 for 30 campaign. This month-long initiative in June invites the community to get involved by aiming to raise £30 or more through 30 events, activities, or creative challenges.   

The campaign encourages everyone, from individuals to schools and workplaces, to participate, have fun, and raise funds to support local unpaid carers. Alli Cutler says that the campaign's goal is not only to raise much-needed funds but also to raise awareness.

"That challenge is obviously to raise funds 30 pounds or more, but it's also about raising awareness.

In our 30th year, we continue to raise that awareness of unpaid carers because many unpaid carers don't see themselves as carers. It can take up to a year and in some cases, three years for people to identify as a carer because they see themselves as a parent or as a son or daughter or a partner first, just doing the job that they're expected to do and don't necessarily see that they're also an unpaid carer as well in that role.

So it's about raising awareness as well as raising much needed funds."

Reflecting on the charity's milestone, Elizabeth McPherson, CEO of Carers Plus Yorkshire, stated, 

"I’m incredibly proud that we’re still going strong and able to support those who need it most. The charity continues to grow, and it’s clear there’s still a real need for what we do".

For more information on how to get involved or to support Carers Plus Yorkshire and the £30 for 30 campaign, the public can contact Alison Cutler or visit the charity's website at https://carersplus.net.