Forward Carers is excited to provide a dedicated website for Adult Carers and Young Carers aged 10 to 18 years old, plus access to our FREE Carers ID Card that holds emergency contact details!
We are an award-winning not-for-profit Community Interest Company and have been empowering unpaid Carers across England to live fulfilling lives since 2014. Our mission is to create Carer Friendly Communities, places where everyone plays a role in supporting Carers and Carers feel understood and valued by the whole community. Carers are at the heart of everything we do, including being a Carer friendly Employer, with many members of our team being unpaid Carers alongside their paid work with us.
We plan to improve the wellbeing of thousands of Carers by implementing our “Carer Friendly Wiltshire” programme through online support. Our experience has taught us that online support can be particularly helpful for Carers, who are juggling family life, have limited ability to leave home, shielding care responsibilities and working unpaid Carers.
Ever found yourself on the internet at all times of day and night researching or looking for support? We will also be working with your library’s, Carers support services and digital inclusion volunteers to ensure all Carers, including those who may need support with the digital world, get access to our support and Carer ID Cards.
Our website will include:
- Opportunity to apply for our Carers photo ID Card (hard copy and digital smartphone version). Designed by Carers for Carers. Carers tell us that this has been important in feeling seen and recognised. This includes an “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) section on the back so emergency services know who to contact if anything should happen to you when out and about. Our Card can be used in lots of venues as evidence of being an essential Carer and our wellness directory will provide you with local and national businesses that recognise Carers and their vital role in all our lives as a community.
- What’s on Calendar. Hereyou can see what is available online. For example, online Carers groups, Coaching for Carers sessions, learning and skills opportunities. It is also a place you can upload your online events and support.
- Regular ZOOM sessions. Need a friendly face and ear? Advice? log on to chat to other Carers.
- Wellbeing Reflection. When you enter our website looking for support, you will be asked some helpful questions that start the process of reflection about your own needs, with some pointers so you can begin or review your journey of support.
- Carers Journey E-News. Those initial stages of accessing support can feel so overwhelming. We will send you some helpful ideas and guides to make the most of our support, the local support.
- Online Chat. Have a quick question? Our chatbot might know the answer! Need to speak to someone? It will give you an option to schedule a chat with an advisor.
- Benefits Calculator. Our calculator has been a valuable tool to thousands of Carers and helping to be aware of their entitlements.
We will help you to get to know us! Our online “Discovery Sessions” will tell you all about our services – so you can get the most out of them, offer information around Carers Rights so you are well informed, as well as themed events as requested by you.
All this and more, as we learn from the valuable local knowledge and ideas of Carers in Wiltshire, and work with all the Services and partners in our mutual aim for a Carer Friendly Wiltshire.
Adult Carers
If you are aged 18 and above, complete our Self-Assessment Form to access Carers Together support, request a Carer’s Assessment and get your Carers ID Card. Get help today.
Young Carers
If you are aged 10 to 18 years old, complete our Self-Assessment Form to access the Integrated Front Door Service for a Young Carer’s Assessment and get your Carers ID Card. Get help today.
Join our Carer Friendly Community
By completing the relevant form above, you will automatically be signed up to our Carer Friendly Community so that you can access our private Facebook Carer Group, receive regular emails as well as, accessing our toolkits and guides about your caring role.
Stay up-to-date with all our news by liking and following us on Facebook and Instagram.
There are millions of Carers in the UK on low or no pay, with many of them missing out on vital help in the form of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Credit.
Did you know that the amount of Carer’s Allowance you’re able to receive has just increased by 6.7%? This means, if you’re already receiving Carer’s Allowance, it will automatically go from £76.75 a week up to £81.90 – a £267 increase for the year.
If you’re aged 16+, earning less than £139 a week (after tax), and providing 35+ hours of weekly care for someone who needs daily living help and is claiming certain benefits, you may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance.
More than seven million UK households could be missing out on benefits like council tax discounts, according to analysis from online benefits calculator Entitledto. Benefits and other government support are not just for those who are out of work. Millions of households on low incomes are also losing out.
Many benefits and discounts aren’t granted automatically; depending on what you’re eligible for, you’ll need to apply to your local council or HMRC. Don’t miss out on money that you are entitled to. The cost-of-living crisis is affecting most of the country especially if you are unable to work because you or a family member has a disability or long-term illness. Ensuring that you check that you are receiving all the state benefits that you are entitled to is a must.
Carers in Wiltshire
If you’re caring for someone in Wiltshire, you can access our Benefits Calculator to see what you may be entitled to. You can also register for a Carers ID Card, access online support groups and self-refer for help from local services.
Use our free and confidential ‘entitledto’ Benefits Calculator to find out what benefits you may be entitled to. You can return to your results later – just take a note of your reference code. Our Benefits Calculator will provide comprehensive welfare entitlement information, relevant to your situation.
It will be helpful to have various documents to hand (and for your partner if you have one) as follows, income details as well as the income of others living with you, rent/mortgage payments, your annual council tax bill as well as any savings/investments/capital you may have.
Check here to see what State Benefits you are entitled to.
To register for a Carers ID Card, access online support groups and self-refer for help from local services, simply complete this form if you are aged over the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, you can access the same support, but you will need to complete a different form here.
Age Concern Birmingham and Headway Birmingham and Solihull have both been recognised for their commitment to supporting Carers in their workplace by receiving the Carer Friendly Employer Commitment Mark from Forward Carers.
The award acknowledges the efforts of these organisations in creating a supportive and inclusive work environment for employees who are also Carers. The Carer Friendly Employer Commitment Mark is awarded to organisations that evidence how they are working towards a set of five Carer Friendly standards that actively support Carers in the workplace.
Anna Smith, Executive Manager for Forward Carers said, “I’m delighted that Age Concern Birmingham and Headway continued their journey with us after completing the Carer Friendly Workplace Champion training. The Commitment Mark is part of our Carer Friendly Communities scheme, the only trademarked Carer Friendly recognition programme.
Age Concern Birmingham and Headway Birmingham & Solihull help and empower Carers in the local community, and now they are supporting Carers in their workplace too. Congratulations to both organisations on this wonderful achievement.”
“Age Concern Birmingham recognises and understands the challenges of balancing work and care and strives to support staff with their caring responsibilities. We are delighted to have this recognised through our Carer Friendly Employer Commitment Mark Certificate.”
Working Carer, Tricia Perryman added:
“I am a carer and balancing work and caring for a loved one can be challenging. Age Concern Birmingham recognises these challenges and offers flexible working hours, so I am able to take on my caring responsibilities.”
One in seven people in the workplace in the UK are juggling work and care1 and on average, 600 people a day leave work to look after a friend or family member who cannot manage due to frailty, a serious illness, disability or addiction2. With these facts, together with the Carers Leave Act coming into force on 6 April 2024, recognising Carers in your workplace has never been greater.
Sue Tyler – CEO Headway Birmingham & Solihull explains why the Commitment Mark is important:
“Gaining our Carer Friendly Commitment Mark, means a lot to Headway. As a specialist brain injury service, we focus on providing support to our families and carers, however it is easy to overlook all the people who work in an organisation who may also be working carers.
This commitment has helped us focus on our staff who are juggling work and caring and have a clear plan and procedure of how to ensure we support them. Also making their colleagues aware is really important in ensuring that working carers get the understanding they need. I would recommend that every organisation try to achieve this commitment mark.”
Are you interested in sharing the support you provide the working Carers in your workplace?
Why not see if you gain our Commitment Mark? Programme Manager Rachel Close would love to hear from you to see how we can support you. For an introductory chat contact Rachel via rachel.close@forwardcarers.org.uk
Find out more information about the Carer Friendly Employer Commitment Mark and Carer Friendly Workplace Training to ensure you support employees who balance work with caring responsibilities.
Carer’s Leave Act Training – Online Event on 11 April
Ensure that your organisation or business is prepared for the implementation of the Carer’s Leave Act on 6 April. Join Forward Carers and Clover HR for a half day training opportunity. You will discover what the new Act will mean for you as an employer and your employees that have caring responsibilities.
Take advantage of an Early Bird rate for our first session on 11th April 2024 of £75+vat with only a limited number of spaces, make sure you don’t miss out! All future sessions are priced at £95+vat. Book your place on Eventbrite today.
Please note we offer 50% discount for non-profits, voluntary sector and micro-businesses. You can access this discount by emailing info@forwardcarers.org.uk directly to book.
1 One in seven people in the workplace in the UK are juggling work and care (Carers UK, Juggling Work and Care, 2019).
2 On average, 600 people a day leave work to care – with over 500,000 people leaving work to provide unpaid care pre-pandemic (Carers UK, Juggling Work and Care).