Kingston Carers Network is the voluntary sector strategic lead for carers and aims to provide a voice for young and adult carers supporting someone in the borough. It is vital that we are aware of the issues that matter to carers and to share these with decision making bodies.
Please get in touch if you would like to raise any issues that affect you as a carer.
Kingston Carers Partnership Board
Kingston Council works closely with Kingston Carers Network to organise the Kingston Carers Board. This Board is helping to deliver The Kingston All Age Carers Strategy, and brings together organisations that offer information and support services to unpaid carers in the borough.
We are keen to hear from as many carers as possible, and you can get involved and have your say by joining the Board. We value the insights of people with lived experience of caring and recognise them as ‘experts by experience’.
We want to work with experts by experience to co-produce our services. This means working together to design services and make decisions that work for everyone, based on the principle that the people who use a service are best placed to help design it.
If you would like to join the Board or to find out more please email: adults.engagement@kingston.gov.uk or call 020 8547 5000.
Important issues raised by carers in the past:
- Health and wellbeing – including carers own mental health
- Changes to services and support for the people they care for
- Reduced funds for statutory and voluntary organisations and what this means for carers
- Recognition from health and social care staff about the role of carers, to be respected and treated as partners in the care provided
- Appropriate and flexible ways for carers to take breaks
- Getting/staying in employment
- Financial matters
Kingston Mental Health Carers Forum
Kingston Mental Health Carers’ Forum (KMHCF) is a small local registered charity that provides advice and support to people in Kingston who give unpaid care to someone experiencing mental health difficulties.
It also undertakes advocacy and campaigning on behalf of carers, a role recognised by key partner organisations including NHS commissioners, the Mental Health Trust, and the Royal Borough of Kingston. KMHCF represents mental health carers on a range of boards and committees across these agencies.
Membership of KMHCF is free and carers can participate as much or as little as they feel able. If you would like to find out more, you can visit the KMHCF website.