New strategy to improve support for unpaid carers in York

The plan will be considered on April 14 and aims to improve support and recognition for carers citywide.

The draft strategy focuses on four areas: better support for carers, improved identification, enhanced health and wellbeing, and stronger joint working across services.

Councillor Lucy Steels Walshaw, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult social care at City of York Council, said: “We recognise that caring can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging, isolating, and financially and emotionally demanding.

“As a council, it is our responsibility to recognise and support carers.

“And as a city, it’s important that we work together to support the people who provide care; we help make York a place where carers can live well, not just in their caring role, but in their whole lives.”

There are thousands of unpaid carers in York, with many providing more than 50 hours of care each week, but only about a third are known to services or receiving formal support.

The strategy calls for York to become a city where carers of all ages and backgrounds are recognised and helped to live well.