Dave Thomas: Important time to remember sacrifice of our unpaid carers

Carers Week takes place in June every year and is a national celebration of carers and an opportunity to raise awareness of the important role they play in our society. This year’s theme is ‘putting carers on the map’. Millions of people across the UK provide care, unpaid, for a friend or loved one who wouldn’t be able to manage without them. The people they support may need care due to an illness, a disability, a health or mental health condition or an addiction. In Torbay alone, there are at least 15,000 unpaid carers. This includes 750 young adult carers aged 16 – 25, although this number is likely to be higher as many people won’t consider themselves to be a carer, and often provide this help alongside other employment or education. 

Carers Week helps us raise awareness of carers dedication and the support they provide. We also need to make sure that they know about all the support available to them. During this special week our carers can obtain free access to local National Trust properties across Devon and some of our Torbay businesses and attractions have also offered extra special discounts. Many thanks to Bygones, the Livermead House Hotel, Torquay Museum and Torre Abbey and Gardens who have all signed up to help this week. These offers are open to anyone with a Carers ‘Passport’ card. If you care for a family member or friend with health / care needs and have not got a Carers Card, please contact the team at Torbay Carers Service on 01803 666620.

In March this year, the Council’s Cabinet approved the Torbay Interagency Carers’ Strategy which covers the next three years.  This effectively means that Torbay Council has made a commitment to Carers and have agreed to deliver the Devon Wide Commitment to Carers. This includes adopting good employment principles and practices for those Carers who work or want to work for us. Torbay hospital also does a range of things to support carers including free parking and discounted refreshments. Carers are also offered an orange lanyard which helps staff identify their role and make sure to involve them in discussions about support and discharge planning.

If you know of someone who is providing care, maybe they don’t know about Torbay Carers Service, as I said previously, many carers don’t even recognise themselves as carers. Please point them in the direction of the service, the number is an easy one to remember (666620). Much more information about what is available, and the form to sign up to the Signposts for Carers’ quarterly Newsletter, is available online at www.torbay.gov.uk/carers-support.   

Changing the subject, I wanted to welcome Cllr. Hazel Foster back to the Council. Last week, as many of you will be aware, the Council held a by-election in Wellswood. This was called after the sad passing of Cllr Patrick Joyce. The count was conducted immediately after voting ended in the Assembly Hall at the Town Hall. It was certainly a long evening, which required two recounts to verify the result, however at approx. 1am on Friday June 7, Hazel Foster was declared duly elected and the new councillor for Wellswood with a majority of just nine votes. She joins the Conservative group on the Council meaning we are still the largest group and hold 50 per cent of the votes in the chamber. (Conservative 18, Liberal Democrat 15, Independent Group 2, Independent 1) 

Before I leave you, I just wanted to remind you of some key dates and information regarding the General Election which takes place on Thursday July 4. I have been asked over the past week if one can vote online. The simple answer is NO – you can’t vote online; however, you can register online – simply visit gov.uk or any good search engine will take you to the correct page to fill in your details. You can vote in person at a polling station on the day, you can vote by post as long as you register in advance or you can have another person vote for you (by proxy), again as long as you register in advance. The dates below are the final dates you can undertake any of these registrations, my strong advice would be to apply early – Pick up the phone and request the form.

Deadline to register to vote is midnight on Tuesday June 18  

Deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm on Wednesday June 19  

Deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on Wednesday June 26