Small grants to help the carers

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Council seeks to make life a little easier during Carers Week

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is trying to make life a little easier for those who care for an elderly, sick or disabled person, with a new series of small grants for carers, announced as part of Carers Week.

The grants are broad and can be used for anything which will bring respite or assistance to a carer, who often is not paid or recognised enough for their work.

There are approximately 11,500 carers in Hammersmith and Fulham. Jean Walker has cared for her mum, Eleanor, for 5 years.

"My mum's 93 and although someone comes in for an hour every day during the week it really is a full time job for me. I'm up at 7am and then it's full on until 11pm. The grant we got from the council last year meant we could have a week in Poole. It was a lovely break and makes a nice change from the routine at home."

The new small grants for carers will be available to people over 18 and caring for another adult for at least 30 hours a week.

Cabinet member for health and social care, Antony Lillis said: "Carers do a wonderful job, which is often a thankless task. They care for relatives, or partners, in a completely selfless way and provide an important service to not only those they care for, but for our community as a whole. We're committed to making sure we can provide as much help as possible to assist carers to carry out their job.

"Caring can often be a daunting, physically and emotionally challenging, task. Our grants can be used by carers for anything which helps in making their caring tasks easier."

Grants of up to £350 can be used for a range of useful things which can help them in the caring task, including:

- A short break
- Mobile phone
- Driving lessons
- Washing machine or dryer
- Training courses
- Gardening or other small jobs.

 

June 8, 2006