Devon Carers

Devon Carers is ‘Putting Carers on the Map’ this week as part of an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise their invaluable contribution to society - estimated to save the Devon economy over £2 billion a year!

Devon Carers, a free service by Westbank Community Health and Care, is putting on a host of events to celebrate Carers Week (10th – 16th June). The service is also planning several events as part of its milestone anniversary to mark 25 years of supporting unpaid carers across the county. Over the last two and...

Devon Carers, a free service by Westbank Community Health and Care, is this month celebrating 25 years of supporting unpaid carers across the county and is planning several events throughout the coming year as part of its landmark anniversary.

The charity provides a wide range of support services to those who look after family members or friends because they are ill, frail, or have a disability, mental health or substance misuse problem.

Over the last two and a half decades, Westbank’s Devon Carers has grown to be one of the largest charitable organisations in the UK...

In response to this year’s Carers Week (5-11th June) theme ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community’, the organisation that supports thousands of unpaid carers across Devon is highlighting the invaluable role carers undertake, which saves the NHS and Social Care organisations across the county an estimated £2.324 billion a year!

Around 75,000 adults provide care for a family member, friend or neighbour in Devon. Many are supported by Devon Carers, one of the services provided by local charity Westbank Community Health and Care. However, many people with caring...

With unpaid carers in Devon facing ever-spiralling financial costs, local charity Devon Carers hosted a well-attended Information and Advice Fair at Exeter Corn Exchange on Carers Rights Day.

Carers Rights Day is a national campaign, organised by Carers UK, that aims to highlight the many challenges unpaid carers face. This year’s theme was ‘Caring Costs’.

The Devon Carers’ event provided carers with information about the services available to support them in their invaluable role. It was also able to offer immediate help by registering them for relevant services, for...

The National Trust Estate at Killerton has joined forces with Devon Carers this Christmas by inviting the charity’s Peer Support Craft Group to decorate one of the trees inside the house.

Earlier this year, Killerton signed up to become a Carer Friendly Devon supporter and the two organisations have already carried out some great work together.

In the run-up to Christmas, Killerton invited Devon Carers to put its stamp on one of the fir trees in the chapel. The Peer Support Craft Group made a wonderful array of different decorations and the Peer Support team did a...

In Devon, approximately 135,000 people look after someone who couldn’t manage without their help and receive no payment for it. Some are new to caring, while others have cared for a family member, friend or neighbour for some time. It’s an invaluable role but carers often feel alone or unsupported, particularly in light of the current cost-of-living crisis.

Devon Carers, part of Westbank Community Health and Care, is hosting a free Information and Advice Fair specifically for unpaid carers on Carers Rights Day. The event will take place on Thursday 24th November at the Exeter...

Exeter Chiefs Winger, Tom O’Flaherty, is working with Devon Carers to raise awareness of the vital role unpaid carers play in helping their family, friends and neighbours across Devon.

His involvement is part of a new unpaid carer campaign, commissioned by Devon County Council and run by FamilyCarersNet, that will be reaching out to people who may not see themselves as an unpaid carer, so they become aware of the tailored help and support available from Devon Carers. Tom O’Flaherty, Exeter Chiefs, spoke of his support: “It’s great to be involved with Devon Carers and raising...

A new information dementia drop in centre has been opened at Topsham Pharmacy and is open on Thursdays between 10am and noon.

Run by volunteers, it is somewhere people to come to find out what support maybe available to them and generally answer any questions they may have on dementia.

Sallie Rutledge who runs The Mede and Seaward House (holiday and day support for people with dementia) in Topsham says: "There's little help at times for the carer and they can feel very isolated.

"We are hoping carers will come to us and tell us what they need....

Seven inspiring social action projects across the UK have been awarded £700,000 to support unpaid family carers, including the Devon Carer’s Scheme - managed by Westbank Community Health. Westbank Community Health have been awarded £140,000 of funding to support carers through information social action, carer support groups, helplines and health and wellbeing checks. Matthew Byrne, Manager of Devon Carers, said: “Caring is social action at its most informal. This scheme enables us to build on the immense contribution that carers already make, and recognises that often they are the best...