Support for carers

So far you have thought about the skills, qualities and attributes carers can develop as part of their caring role. You may manage a carer who is returning to paid employment or someone who has been combining their work and caring roles. Now you will look at the support available for carers in the workplace and in the wider community.

For some carers, support might mean joining a carers group. For example, the young adult carers in Renfrewshire have a social group that meets fortnightly. They take part in a range of activities, learning together and supporting each other in their caring roles. Joining a support group may just be about having fun with people who understand the challenges in carers’ lives.

Clair, a young adult carer in Renfrewshire, comments about what she gains from being part of the young adult carers group.

Listen to young adult carers Clair, Jade and Scott talking about how they support each other.

Download this video clip.Video player: renfrewshire_group_snippet_1.mp4

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Transcript

Group discussion

Gavin

What do you feel like you get out of the groups we have every fortnight?

Clair

Seeing each other and, I mean it’s good having one on ones with you, but I mean it’s good to really meet the group and see how everyone’s getting on. And we are all really interested in what’s going on with each other. We’re all wanting to know how we all are, and it’s a good way of catching up with everyone.

Jade

It’s like a big family. Like we are just your extended family.

Gavin

Yeah, Yeah

Scott

Aaawwww! Everybody at once! [all laugh]

Jade

Well in a way you’re our carer. But it’s coming in and knowing that if you’ve had a bad day, you can escape from it, or you can talk to someone. And even if someone’s not been through the situation, which is quite rare, then they will still feel like I know what to do here – I can help you.

Gavin

Yeah, superb.

Scott

I just love that everybody’s so caring. And because it’s kinda hard to get a decent person nowadays that actually really sincerely cares about you. When you walk in here it’s like, you actually, you know that people care about you because if you walk in with your face tripping you, like you know someone’s going to ask you what’s up and sit and talk about you. And be genuinely interested and not just be asking just for the sake of asking you, sort of thing. D’you know what I mean?

Gavin

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Scott

So it’s good to know that there’s people that actually care for you.

Gavin

Yeah, cool man, and in terms of you guys being, your experience as a carer, what do you think is the most positive thing to come out of being a carer?

Clair

I think all the skills you get from it. So all the good skills. A lot of people think of all the bad stuff, like you’re late and you’ve got your phone on all the time and school and things like that. But the things you can bring to any project, or any of these qualities like the caring side of things like we are caring because of what we do, and things like that. And we’ve, you know, we’re used to maybe stressful situations, maybe all that kind of stuff so we will bring a lot to even a job, or anything like that so I mean that’s definitely a big positive as well as just the relationship you have with the person you’re caring for. I mean you become a lot closer to them. And they’re relying on you and that means a lot to them so it’s great to kind of have that time with them when you’re kind of doing things for them and just to chat and it’s really great.

Gavin

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jade

I think it’s as Clair said – the relationship that you build up with that person that you’re caring for, that you could be doing the littlest things for them and you can see that they are so grateful for it. And then you realise, like this isn’t actually just life, but it just makes my life more special

Gavin

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jade

And you kinda value your own life a bit more as well.

End transcript

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