Media invited to attend: 10 am-4 pm, Tuesday, 13 June, C3 Centre, Coldhams Lane, Cambridge, CB1 3HW
Passionate dementia campaigner Tommy Whitelaw will share his experience as an unpaid carer for his mother at an event in Cambridge to mark National Carers Week (12-18 June).
The annual ‘Sharing the Caring’ event on Tuesday, 13 June (10am-4pm) at the C3 Centre, Coldhams Lane is jointly organised by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Carers Trust Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to celebrate inspiring carers and share practical support and information.
Tommy, who gave up his high profile job to care for his mother, speaks around the country about his experiences of being a carer, from her diagnosis with dementia in 2007 until her death in 2012. He writes a high profile blog called Tommyontour and has gathered over a thousand pledges on what matters for carers and now works for Dementia Carer Voices.
Tommy said: “As a son who cared for my beautiful mum Joan, I am so very proud to be attending and speaking at the Sharing the Caring celebratory event.
“Carers tell us that a little bit of time, listening and understanding can make an unimaginable difference during what can be a very difficult and lonely journey. No matter what your role you have the potential to transform the lives and experiences of people living with dementia, families and carers.”
Winners of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Pride in Our Carers Awards 2017 will be announced in the afternoon, including Carer of the Year, Young Carer of the Year, Carer Friendly Social Care and Carer Friendly Employer.
The event, which is free, will be informative and entertaining, focusing on carers’ lives and explaining about their rights and how to plan ahead for an emergency. The doors open at 9.45 am for registration and advance booking is essential. Marketplace stalls will provide a range of valuable information and activities, some interactive, for family carers, including Tai Chi and Mindfulness workshops, and the chance to join the Labrynth Singing for Health group.
There will also be a chance to hear how the Triangle of Care is involving carers since Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust joined the scheme two years ago to strengthen the involvement of carers and families in care planning.
Dr Helen Brown, CEO of Carers Trust Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, said: “We are thrilled that Tommy can speak at our major event as his experiences and passionate campaigning will strike a chord with many of our family carers who devote their lives to caring for a loved one with dementia.
“Not only is this a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our family carers and the sacrifices many of them make to support loved their ones, but we promise everyone a good laugh during the day. We know that laughter is stress releasing, and that’s why we have booked Robin Graham, to have everyone rolling in their seats.
“Once again we have been moved to tears by the many heart-rending nominations that have been made for the Pride in Our Carers Awards. Our family carers do an absolutely amazing job and deserve public recognition for their selflessness. We cannot wait to share their inspirational stories with people on the day, and the people and organisations that support them.”
Aidan Thomas, Chief Executive, CPFT, said: “We know that there are thousands of unpaid carers in Cambridgeshire and that they are essential partners in support and recovery. So we’ve joined forces with Carers Trust Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for the second year running to organise a major event during Carers Week between 12-18 June to give them the chance to ask questions, get answers and share their experiences.”
Carers Trust Cambridgeshire will launch a major new fundraising initiative during the afternoon called Cash Quest 2017. Businesses, groups and individuals will be challenged to increase a £50 stake over 12 weeks to raise funds to support young carers.
Notes to Editors:
For media enquiries, and if you are able to attend on the day, contact Ellee Seymour, Carers Trust Cambridgeshire Communications Officer, 01480 499090, email [email protected] or Mark Cole, Communications Manager at CPFT on 01223 726766, email [email protected].
About Carers Trust Cambridgeshire and Carers Trust Peterborough
- Carers Trust Cambridgeshire is the leading provider of family carer support services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
- Three out of five people will be a carer at some point in their lives.
- There are over 78,000 family carers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and over 6.5 million family carers in the UK.
- Carers Trust Cambridgeshire Carers Trust Peterborough is there to help through:
- Providing flexible breaks for family carers
- Preparing families for an emergency with its unique What If? Plan
- Providing training, support and information for family carers
- Carer awareness training for professionals and employers
- Support for young carers and young adult carers
- Groups, activities and individual support for children and young people with disabilities
- Working with other voluntary organisations to increase carer recognition and support.
About Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) is a health and social care organisation, providing integrated community, mental health and learning disability services, across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and children’s community services in Peterborough.
- We support around 100,000 people each year and employ more than 3,400 staff. Our largest bases are at the Cavell Centre, Peterborough, and Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, but our staff are based in over 90 locations.
- We are a University of Cambridge Teaching Trust and member of Cambridge University Health Partners, working together with the University of Cambridge Clinical School.
