News for you

The Census which takes place in March has expanded the carer question, to provide more useful information on the amount of caring carers do.

As we are now in lockdown again, you may be unwilling or unadvised to go to the shops. You may be happy shopping on line, but you may also look to get help from a family member, neighbour, friend or other volunteer. If you do, it's important to know the ways to keep your money safe and protected.

We join Carers UK, Carers Trust and other carer organisations in welcoming the inclusion of unpaid carers in new COVID vaccination advice from the government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation published on 30th December. 

A new Carers Trust survey finds unpaid carers at breaking point with very little support. Nearly 90% feel they do not receive enough support from social care. The charity continues to call on government to do more,

We are dismayed that it does not yet seem that carers are to be prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccination, and join Carers UK in our calls to government for this to be changed.

To mark Carers Rights Day 2020, Carers UK released new research which estimates that the care provided to date during the COVID-19 pandemic by unpaid carers is a staggering £135 billion; meaning each day during the pandemic, unpaid carers are saving the UK state £530 million in the care they provide.

Did you know that by signing up to your utility companies' free Priority Service Registers you can get extra assistance in a water shortage or power cut? Find out more.

Carers already put their own health needs last - and the NHS is concerned that all of us are failing to see our GP just now because of the pandemic. A new campaign has been launched to encourage you to make that GP appointment. Don't put it off.

The government has published new care home visiting guidelines with the second lockdown. The ability to visit is still severely limited and many charities are expressing their frustration and disappointment, including Carers Trust.

Surrey County Council and the NHS in Surrey have opened a NEW survey (open November 2020, closing January 3) to help finalise the draft Surrey Carers Strategy 2021-24.