Carers' Project

beat's Project for Carers

Welcome to the new page dedicated to beat's Project for Carers!

This page will provide you with information about what we have already achieved, what we are currently working on, and what we hope to achieve in the future of the project. It will also provide any information about events coming up that carers' might find useful to know about, as well as detailing how you can get more involved in the project if you wish.

CARERS WEB PAGES COMPLETE!!!

We have now finished working on the new webpages for carers, which you can find under 'Information for Carers' in the left hand menu (under 'Help and Support'). To go to the new pages now, please click here.

We have also completed some web pages for young carers, to see these, please click here.

Am I a Carer?

By 'carer' we mean anyone who provides help and support to someone with an eating disorder. This could mean a parent, step-parent, partner, child, brother, sister, other relative, colleague, teacher, or simply a good friend. You might be older or younger than the person you support, you might see them every day or less often, and you may or may not live with them. Regardless of your circumstances, the resources we aim to create should still be useful for you.

Carers tell us they often feel bewildered, guilty and very anxious when someone they care about has an eating disorder. This project aims to support carers in their caring role, and to help provide them with the vital support they need in order to maintain their strength and successfully support the person they care for.

The Plan!

The carers’ project has been funded for three years, during which time we hope to create:

• Information for carers to be provided by the helpline team
• A forum for carers on the beat website
• New information pages for carers on the beat website
• Three new leaflets for carers
• Campaigns

This page will be updated as the project progresses, so you will always know what stage of the project we are at!

Carers’ Project Timeline:

August 2008:                The project begins

September 2008:         Questionnaire about carers’ needs and new services

October 2008:               Analysis of questionnaire findings*

November 2008:           Research existing services for carers

December 2008:           Meeting with carers about information for helpline team

January 2009:               Meeting with helpline team about information to provide

February 2009:              Collecting information for handouts for helpline team,

                                          working with the IT team planing the new Carers' Forum

March 2009:                  Completed handouts for helpline team ready to design

                                          into posters, created 'mock-up' of Carers' Forum

April 2009:                      Posters for helpline team were designed,   

                                          work on the Carers' Forum continued    

May 2009:                       Posters for the helpline team were printed and

                                          distributed to all helpline staff, work on the Carers'

                                          Forum continued

June 2009:                     Work on carers' web pages began

July 2009:                       Work on web pages for carers continued, as did work

                                          on the Carers' Forum 

August 2009:                 Web pages for carers were completed and published

September 2009:         Web pages for young carers were planned

October 2009:               The web page for young carers were completed

December 2009:           New Carers' Project Officer appointed

January 2010:               Research for the Carers' Leaflets began

                                          and questionnaires sent out

                                          Draft copy of Carers' Leaflets begun

February 2010:              'Carers' Action Group' formed - to provide

                                          ongoing input and evaluation of the project

                                          First Live Chat with Carers' Action Group

March 2010:                   Initial draft of Carers' Leaflets nearing completion

April 2010:                      First Carers' Project & beat Self-Help Network Regional

                                          Training Event: Sheffield, Saturday 17th April

*For more information about the findings of the questionnaires, please click here!

Right Now...!

Three new Carers' Leaflets are currently being written: one for those caring for someone under 18, one for those caring for someone over 18, and one for those who care for thier partners. These will be added to the website to download.

We are also looking at campaigning ideas that carers can get involved in in the near future. The first of a series of joint Carers' Project and Self-Help Network regional training events will be held in April. These will include a focus on campaigning issues for carers.

The Future!

We will be creating a Carers' Forum - a new area of the beat wesbite that carers can sign in to. It will include information carers might find useful when looking for support for themselves, as well as a carers' only message board and other interactive services. Members of the Carers' Forum will receive regular updates on the beat news, as well as have the chance to help inform services and decisions we make here at beat.  

Regional training events will continue, with a focus on training carers and equipping them with the skills to run campaigning events.

We will also be looking for carers who are willing to commit to being Carers' Champions, representing carers in the media, at appropriate events, and in research.

Other Stuff for Carers!

This year Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts are undertaking joint consultations on local carers services and support. We need to make sure the views and specific needs of people caring for someone with an eating disorder are heard. To find out more information about the consultations and how you can get involved, please click here

Advice for Employers of Carers:

Employers for Carers is an innovative new service for employers supported by Carers UK. They provide advice, information and support to help employers retain staff who also have caring responsibilities. Their website can be viewed by clicking here.

Carers UK: Carers Poverty Charter

Carers UK are calling for an end to carers poverty and an improvement in the benfit system for carers. You can join the campaign by signing their charter here.

What can YOU do?

We have a facebook group especially for carers.

To find out more about the Carers' Project, to get involved with any aspect of the project that interests you, or to receive regular e-mail updates about the project, e-mail the Carers' Project Officer, Lawrence Brown: l.brown@b-eat.co.uk