Carers
A carer is anyone who spends a lot of time looking after a relative, partner, friend or child who is ill or frail or has a physical, mental health or learning disability.
Most people who look after relations or friends are happy to do so, but sometimes they need help and support to continue providing care.
Short breaks provide opportunities for disabled children and young people to spend time away from their primary carers. They provide an essential opportunity for carers to recharge their batteries, and disabled children and young people to experience new relationships, environments and positive activities.
The Carers Act (1995) gives carers the right to request an assessment of their own abilities and needs when an assessment of the needs of the person they care for is being carried out.
Carers' breaks, also known as respite care, can provide an opportunity for carers to take a break from the mental and physical demands of caring.
Local and national voluntary and statutory organisations that can provide carers with information and advice.
An improved package of support and services has been unveiled to boost Lambeth’s thousands of unpaid Carers. The first-ever Lambeth Carers’ Strategy aims to provide better support to the estimated 18,500+ Carers who devote huge amounts of their time and energy to looking after other people.
If you know a very special Carer whose exceptional efforts should be rewarded, then please nominate them for the Lambeth Carers' Awards.
The Carer of the Year Award will recognise the unpaid Carer whose efforts in providing care to someone else are, in the opinion of the judges, particularly exceptional and deserving of additional recognition. This may be through overcoming particular difficulties or barriers, tackling specific challenges, having addressed unusual or unexpected circumstances, or having been particularly creative or innovative in finding a solution to a challenge or problem to the benefit of the person they are caring for.