This campaign has now closed

“If only I had know that I could claim Carers Allowance, I could have kept the flat a bit warmer, instead of trying to save on our gas bill”, Alison, carer, 49. Every day 5,500 people become a carer. Carers are diverse; they are husbands and wives, daughters and sons, sisters and brothers, adoptive parents, friends and neighbours. They care for a whole range of illnesses, disabilities and frailties and can care for many different periods of time. Research shows that 65% of carers did not recognize themselves as carers in the first year of caring and as a consequence, one in three carers missed out on benefits that were due to them. As well as missing out on some £740 million of unclaimed benefits, carers do not get the services or information they need, particularly in the first year of caring. The proven way to help the 5,500 people that are new to caring every day is to help them recognise themselves as carers through publicity. Simple campaigns that attract the general public’s attention using authentic carers and celebrities have proved to be very successful. However, a significant publicity campaign is something we cannot do without funding and resources.

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Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Health/Wellbeing Health/​Wellbeing
  • Human Rights/Advocacy Human Rights/​Advocacy
  • Beneficiaries

    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other

    Situation

    We need to ensure that carers know that they are carers, that families alert their relatives to the fact that they may be carers and those carers are aware of the services and benefits that can help them and the loved one that they care for. We want to develop a publicity campaign with print, broadcast and electric media. We will use creative ideas to help engage journalists and secure media interest which would lead to coverage in key titles. We will develop broadcast campaigns that will include leaders in the field giving a platform to a campaign spokesperson, we will use our case studies and a web TV programme using a studio based presenter that will include a call to action for the audience to Carers UK. We will also include a series of podcasts/diaries using personal accounts of a carer focusing on a different situation. These will be promoted through radio and online interviews, online editorial and WebTV which can be downloaded with compelling case studies. Every person who is disabled, has a life threatening condition or who is frail wishes to stay in their own home for as long as possible. Support to carers can make this happen. You can make this happen.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Health/Wellbeing Health/​Wellbeing
  • Human Rights/Advocacy Human Rights/​Advocacy
  • Beneficiaries

    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)
    • Other Other