A new Draft Carers Strategy for 2024-2027 has been developed to support unpaid carers in West Berkshire, including young carers. This strategy outlines how West Berkshire Council, alongside the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) and other local partners, plan to improve support for carers who live in or care for someone living in the area.
The public is now being invited to get involved and help shape this important strategy.
Access the Draft Carers Strategy Here.
Who is a Carer?
NHS England defines a carer as "anyone, including children and adults, who looks after a family member, partner, or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, mental health problem, or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid."
If this sounds like you, or if you know someone providing unpaid care, your input is valuable in helping us ensure that carers get the right support when they need it most.
Why Your Input Matters
Caring for someone can be incredibly rewarding but also challenging. This strategy is focused on making sure carers receive the timely, accessible information and services they need to continue their caring roles while also leading fulfilling lives outside of caring. But to make it truly effective, we need feedback from those it impacts the most – unpaid carers, their families, and the wider community.
By sharing your experiences and ideas, you can help us improve the support systems in place for carers, ensuring they have the resources to manage their responsibilities and their own well-being. Find out more about the strategy, and the work behind it via the following link.
How to Get Involved
We want to hear your thoughts, whether you are a carer, know someone who is, or simply want to contribute to shaping the future of support for carers in West Berkshire. Your insights will help refine the strategy and make sure it meets the needs of all carers in the area.
Take part by providing feedback on the strategy, attending public consultation events, or sharing your story. Together, we can build a strategy that makes a real difference in the lives of unpaid carers across West Berkshire.