Feedback - Conferences
Caring for Carers in Foyle - June 2005
The Foyle Carers Forum, including Family Information group, was launched this week at a successful Carers Week conference at the City Hotel. An enthusiastic group of more than a hundred people got together on Tuesday to start thinking about how to make things better for carers.
‘The best thing about the day was the number of different voices we heard’ said Helen Ferguson from Carers Northern Ireland. ‘We had carers of all ages, looking after relatives and friends with a wide range of disabilities and needs from all over the Foyle Trust area. Health and social services staff from teams all over Foyle came along to listen to carers, and to share their own experiences and difficulties. The carers who came along were amazingly open and honest about their own caring situations, and I think that everyone learnt a lot’.
The initiative began last year with a group of carers. They got together because they believed that the difficulties they experienced were not specific to them, but were shared by other carers, even where the disability of the person being cared for was totally different. From the beginning, the group was supported by Carers Northern Ireland, Foyle MS Society, Speechmatters, NI Chest Heart and Stroke Association, the Family Information Group and Foyle Trust.
The conference was an opportunity for carers to focus on their own needs and issues, for a change, rather than on the person cared for. It allowed carers within the Foyle Trust area to share experiences and learn from each other.
It also gave carers a voice with those responsible for Health and Social Services about carers' needs and concerns. Speakers included Mr Joe Lusby, Chief Executive of the Foyle Trust, who underlined the Trust’s recognition of the importance of carers, and its commitment to working together in the future. Six different carers spoke about the difficulties facing them and their hopes for the future.
Carers and workers who attended welcomed the launch of the Foyle Carers Forum as a way for carers and health & social services to work together in the future. Any carer who would like to find out more can contact Helen at Carers Northern Ireland on 9043 9843 or Terry at Foyle MS on 7136 0831.
Helen Ferguson, Director
Carers Northern Ireland
