Welcome to Kent Carers Matter

Five Carer organisations in Kent have joined together to launch Kent Carers Matter, a campaign to raise the profile of Carers in Kent; increase access to Carer services; support health and social care professionals to identify and refer Carers to services earlier and to provide opportunities for Carers to have their say about local and national issues that affect them.

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Who are carers?

 
You are a Carer if you look after a family member, partner, friend or neighbour who due to physical or mental illness, disability, age related difficulties or an addiction cannot cope without your support.
1 in 9 adults in Kent are Carers, that’s over 151,000 people, though some don’t use the term Carer to describe what they do for the person they care for.
Carers are all ages, come from all walks of life and backgrounds and many combine caring for someone with paid work.
Carers are unpaid and are not the same as paid care workers.
Being a Carer can be a positive experience but it can also be challenging and exhausting. Carers often find they don’t have time to look after their own health and social needs.
 

Find information and support

There is a lot of information, emotional and practical support available for Carers in Kent.  Click the map below to find out what’s available in your area.

Support in your area Dartford Gravesend Swanley Rochester Strood Sevenoaks Malling Maidstone Tonbridge Tunbridge Wells Sittingbourne Faversham Wye Canterbury Herne Bay Margate Ramsgate Deal Dover Lenham Staplehurst Sheerness Cranbrook Hawkhurst Ashford Lydd Folkstone

 
 

Carer stories

 
kay
“Being a Carer takes up almost all of my time. I’ve only had 3 full weeks’ break in 4 years."
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"Becoming a Carer to my son - a previously independent young adult - is very distressing and emotional.”
gill
“The positives of being a Carer are that I feel even closer to my husband and I’ve realised that I am a good, calm, patient Carer.”
clive
“When I became a Carer for my wife I had to give up my job and accept our lives would change.”
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“I do struggle at school from being tired due to all the things I have to do as mum’s Carer. I’ve not really told anyone at school that I’m a Carer."
 

How you can support Carers

 

Kent Carers Matter supporters

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