Care and support

Helping Hertfordshire carers

One in three of us will be an unpaid carer to a friend or relative at some point in our lives and this year’s national Carers Week (June 8-14) aims to highlight these people, who they call the UK’s secret service.

There are more than 100,000 carers in Hertfordshire. Two thirds of carers of working age are in some form of paid employment, often finding it really hard to juggle both roles.

One in five carers, mostly in the 45 plus age group, have to give up work because of their caring role.

At the same time there are at least 2,000 carers in Hertfordshire who want to return to work or study but don’t know where to start.

A Carers into Learning and Work Service has been set up in Hertfordshire to help carers and former carers get back into learning and/or paid work.

The service, a partnership between Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Career Service, through the advice service nextstep, aims to help carers rediscover their confidence and provide them with the skills and information they need.

The county council is also working on a partnership with other organisations across the county to provide information and advice to carers. Although still in its early stages, the carers information network aims to ensure that carers get all the information they need whoever they turn to for advice.

For more information on both these projects please use the links on the right of this page.

There are many events taking place across the county during Carers Week. To find your local event look on the Carers Week website using the link on the right of this page.

Feature added 3 June 2009