Norfolk's Carers invited to apply for free Wellbeing Packs

Norfolk County Council is delighted to provide a further 3,000 free Wellbeing Packs to unpaid carers over the coming months, after previous packs were taken up enthusiastically across Norfolk.

The packs, which are provided through Covid funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), are designed to support unpaid carers and include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to support recipients in their role as a carer, as well as a range of pick-me-up items for the carer including chocolates, toiletries, and other treats to bring a little joy in these difficult times.

Cllr Bill Borrett, Norfolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said:

"This pack, and all the support offered by Carers Matter Norfolk, are available for anyone who has a caring role. There may be thousands of people in Norfolk who support a loved one and don't realise they are in fact a carer, and there is help out there for them. I hope this pack not only encourages more of them to get in touch, but to also discover the full range of support that is out there."

If you are a caring for a friend or loved one, or know somebody that is, you can register your details online to receive a pack. Those who are eligible will have a pack posted directly to their home.

You can apply for a Wellbeing Pack online.

So far, Norfolk County Council has provided over 4,000 packs to unpaid carers since February 2021, working with partners Carers Matter Norfolk, Caring Together and Carers Voice to deliver them to carers across Norfolk.

Emma Harrison, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Lead at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust said:

"The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn has been very fortunate to be offered these family carer packs as they were highlighted to us by colleagues across Norfolk who provide the packs out through the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and James Paget Hospital. They are gratefully received by carers across the hospital whether they are patients or staff. I was able to provide one to every ward manager this week to raise awareness of unpaid family carers, share the idea with their teams and identify a carer to give their pack to. The contents are clearly thought out and have been a welcome gift to many who struggle with their caring responsibilities."

The packs have also been made available through Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, James Paget University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, all of whom are working in partnership with the Council to support the project.

Andy McGowan, Head of Carer Services at Caring Together, said:

"This month saw the annual Carers Week, with the theme being making caring visible, valued and supported - we are therefore really pleased that the wellbeing packs continue to be available as a small way of showing carers in Norfolk that they are visible and they are valued. Carers have told us that these small pick-me-ups have been very much appreciated. People looking after a family member or friend can request a pack and, if they have not already contacted Carers Matter Norfolk to talk through the other support and advice that is available, we would encourage them to also do this"

The packs have been met with positive feedback from both carers and professionals, who have been involved in handing them out to carers, prompting some carers to get in touch with the County Council directly or leaving feedback on the website to express how much receiving a pack has meant to them.

One carer got in touch to say, "a very big thank you... for the really lovely kit received today". The carer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that it had really given them a boost and was so appreciated.

Unpaid carers can also find a wide range of support available via Carers Matter Norfolk, a service commissioned by Norfolk County Council. Details of the personalised support available for carers can be found onlineor by calling 0800 0831 148 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm).