Hull City Council and City Healthcare Partnership (CHCP) CIC have commissioned a new service to reach out to family carers in the area.
The pilot project with Mobilise launched on Tuesday 1 February. It uses social media and digital marketing to help to find and identify ‘unpaid carers’, connecting them immediately with others in a similar position, and providing relevant, timely support.
Many Hull residents who provide unpaid care are not accessing the support available to them. Many people do not see themselves as carers because they are simply doing what they can for a relative, a friend or a neighbour who needs them because of their disability or illness.
Mobilise will work alongside the existing support provided by The Carers Information and Support Service Hull. They offer a range of online support, from website guides, regular contact through emails, guide to caring e-course to ‘virtual cuppas’ and even individual support calls – seven days a week.
Councillor Gwen Lunn, Portfolio Member for Adult Services and Public Health at Hull City Council, said: “We want to identify more carers and provide additional support, particularly during the difficult winter months, so carers can continue to provide their crucial care and enjoy positive lives. Mobilise is a great way for people to connect and receive support from others who can relate to their similar and shared experiences.”
Lee, 55, a family carer who supports his sister who is a stroke survivor and her son who has psychosis said: “Mobilise is unique, real people with real experience are there to help make a real difference in how I support my loved ones who have health challenges. Everyone who cares for a loved one would do well to connect with Mobilise.”
Suzanne Bourne, Co-founder and Head of Carer Support at Mobilise, stated: “There are carers out there who may need advice who are not currently accessing it. Creating a Mobilise carer peer support network in Hull will see an improvement in their wellbeing. Carers are less likely to reach breakdown and require emergency assistance.”
