The Carers’ Support Service, managed by Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC), received a Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Grant from West Cornwall Together to undertake a pilot project providing information to carers and promoting the valuable contribution they make in looking after a dependent family member, spouse, friend or neighbour who lives at home.

Learning about services and support available to carers in the early stages of their caring role is vital for their own health and wellbeing and five volunteers who are or have been carers, over the past two months, have been attending events in Penwith to provide information to carers and raise carer awareness, visited GP surgeries, distributed posters and leaflets in public places and given talks to groups such as U3A and the WI.

The outcomes have included a considerable number of referrals to the Carers Support Service, information now more readily available in doctor’s surgeries and the need to continue this work on an ongoing basis.

Carer Champion volunteers have said “as a Carer Champion I am very enthusiastic about this work and eager to encourage carers to get the information they need to steer them towards sources of help”

“as an ex carer, it is rewarding to be able to pass on to other carers what I learnt the “hard way”.

Whilst the funding finished at the end of March the volunteers have agreed to continue this valuable work and the evidence gained will enable CRCC to apply for longer term funding to provide a countywide service.