To mark Carers’ Week, I was pleased to visit the Peer Support Group at South Lewisham Health Centre in Catford. Facilitated by social action charity Imago, I met with Beccy and Ruth, and the carers who come to these sessions twice a month on a Wednesday morning, to learn all about how they support each other through respite, emotional support, and generally having fun together.
Imago have been running these groups since 2013, and this is part of their wider work reaching and supporting unpaid carers, wherever they are in the community. They have delivered training to 80% of local schools, to reach teachers, headteachers and school children to spread the word about what they call ‘carer identification’. This means that more people will be able to spot unpaid carers in their groups and schools, and signpost them to the support they might need. Recent data shows that there are over five million unpaid carers in the UK, and I was so pleased to hear that many people in Lewisham East are getting supported through Imago, and specifically this peer support group.
Ruth King, Head of Service at Imago, said: “Co-production is at the heart of everything we do. We always seek feedback from the people who use our services, ensuring we provide support that truly meets their needs. At the same time, we recognise that every carer has their own unique perspective and experience; no two journeys are the same. That’s why it’s so important that we create spaces like these support groups for every carer’s voice to be heard and valued.”
I learned about the wider work being done to support unpaid carers, and ensuring that this support is communicated to everyone and anyone who might need it. Outreach is really important to this, and the team work in health and care settings to get the word out, as well as listening to feedback and going out into communities across Lewisham to meet people where they are, closer to home.
The Government currently has a live consultation, which is asking for responses from people who have had unpaid caring responsibilities in the UK. Click this link to access the consultation and have your voice heard on the topic of employment rights for unpaid carers in the UK.
Unpaid carers in Lewisham are warmly invited to attend the peer support group in Catford, or any other of Imago’s services. To be eligible for the Lewisham-based groups, you must be either caring for someone in the borough of Lewisham, or be a resident of the borough yourself. You can learn more and register with Imago at: www.imago.community
