Concerns raised as carers charity closes doors

The closure of a charity supporting carers in Wiltshire and Dorset has sparked concern among organisations tasked with supporting unpaid carers, with fears others may also be ending their services.

Carer Support Wiltshire and Carer Support Dorset are shutting their service today (31/3), saying it is no longer financially viable.

In the last year, the organisation saw its outgoings exceed its income by over £100,000.

Ramzi Suleiman, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Carers Trust, which works through a network of around 135 local carer services, said the alarming trend of financial strain affecting carer services nationwide is a big factor.

"Over the past three years, funding for local carer services has fallen by about 20% in real terms," he said. "That puts a real pressure on their on their bottom line.

"It makes local carer services make really difficult decisions about the services they provide and to which carers they can they provide those services to."

Funding Challenges

The pressures stem from various issues, including reduced contract sizes and decreased income from local authorities and NHS sources, equating to approximately £100 million combined.

This financial decrease impacts the provision of vital services, with local services under pressure from heightened demands.

The national government's Casey Commission might address social care funding, but local authorities face significant challenges.

Impact on Carers

Millions of carers provide extensive hours of care weekly, incurring strain on their health, wellbeing, and finances.

Local carer services help alleviate these pressures by offering respite care, peer support, and advice on finances and housing.

Without these services, carers risk facing detrimental impacts on their health and wellbeing.

Advice for Concerned Carers

Ramzi is urging carers to visit the Carers Trust website, carers.org, where they can use their postcode to find available local services.

Local authorities can provide carers assessments, identifying available support in the region.

He emphasized that support is available, urging carers to reach out and access local services through their council.

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