What does the Greenwich Carers Centre do?
The Greenwich Carers Centre is a registered charity, number 2823279 and Company Limited by Guarantee, and was formed in 1991 at the initiative of local carers. Although managed locally it enjoys being one of over 100 independent centres connected to the Princess Royal Trust for Carers. The organisation exists to provide a 'one stop shop' service to all carers living within the borough of Greenwich. We provide information, support and practical help to adult and young carers. We now support over 300 carers a year within the borough of Greenwich. Greenwich is fortunate that it has statutory authorities that are prepared to be proactive in working with the voluntary sector in supporting carers and their needs. We are pleased to say that we have been a key player along side Greenwich Social Services, the Health Authority and other local voluntary sector services in developing a local 'Joint Strategy for Carers of Older People and People with Disabilities'. We have also been working jointly throughout 2001 with Greenwich Social Services in designing the borough's Carers Information Pack and Assessment tool.
Who is a carer?
A carer is someone who provides support to a partner, disabled child, parent, other relative or friend who, because of illness, disability, or old age could not manage alone. The informal support provided by carers is different to 'formal' care provided by Support Services and is un-paid. Most carers would still not recognise themselves under the term 'carer'. They are just people trying to cope as best they can while helping to look after, for example, a partner with Multiple Sclerosis, an elderly relative with Alzheimer's, or a young child with Cerebral Palsy. They may be juggling paid work with their un-paid caring responsibilities at home. In total there are approximately 24,000 adult carers within the borough of Greenwich saving the local authority approximately £14 million each year. Over 21,000 care for a relative, over 12,900 care for someone over 75 years of age, over 6,000 are themselves retired and approximately 2000 are young carers - young people under the age of 18 who might be looking after a parent with physical disabilities or mental health problems, or who may be helping to care for a brother or sister with learning disabilities.