Caring for the Carers

The Club was delighted to welcome Clare-Anne Magee Head of Carers NI to the meeting Monday 19 October to detail the Rotary – Carers UK Partnership. Her well received address revealed that there are 20,000 carers in NI and they try to get as much information and support information to them. She pointed out that caring is daunting and the Covid pandemic had wreaked havoc among carers; a recent survey finding that 80% of carers have to give more care than before and 50% saying their mental health has suffered. She stressed that the loneliness aspect of carers cannot be underestimated particularly at this time of year. The Rotary partnership involves Rotarians expanding the outreach raising the awareness of caring and Carers UK within their communities and connecting carers with the information, advice and support provided by Carers UK.