Local businesses invited to join the Wiltshire Passport scheme for family carers

Carer Support Wiltshire is appealing to local businesses to offer discounts on their services or products to help thousands of unpaid carers in Wiltshire.

The Wiltshire Passport was introduced as a discount card for unpaid carers. So far around 50 local businesses have signed up to offer special deals to those carers who were in receipt of a Wiltshire Passport.

Businesses already taking part include beauty salons, cafés, cleaning companies, leisure centres and a number of retailers across the county.

Sue Crisfield, Development Manager at Carer Support Wiltshire, said: “Many carers are struggling financially to make ends meet with many people having to give up work in order to care for the family member or friend who needs them.

“The Wiltshire Passport gives businesses the opportunity to give something back to the local community and enables carers to save a little bit of money which could potentially make a lot of difference.”

The Wiltshire Passport is linked to the Carers Emergency Card (CEC), which is a free emergency response service providing unpaid carers with peace of mind. The scheme is managed by Carer Support Wiltshire which is jointly supported by Wiltshire Council and NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

While registering for a CEC, a carer will develop an emergency support plan to provide details of what action should to be taken to support the person they care for, should they be unable to continue caring for them. They will then be issued a Wiltshire Passport.

Since January this year, 500 new carers have registered for a CEC and passport.

The 2011 Census figures reveal there are currently 47,608 people in the county who are providing unpaid care to a relative, child, partner or friend who cannot cope alone due to an illness, disability, additional need or substance misuse problem.

To find out more about joining the scheme, contact Sue Crisfield on 0800 1814118 or SueC@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

Any carers who would like to access the Wiltshire Passport discounts or support from Carer Support Wiltshire, can do so via www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk or by calling 0800 181 4118.

Notes for Editors

For more information about the Wiltshire Passport Scheme, please contact Sue Crisfield, Service Development Managerat Carer Support Wiltshire, on 0800 181 4118 or email SueC@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

The Wiltshire Passport scheme enables carers to receive small discounts or additional services from local businesses and services signed-up to the scheme. A full list of suppliers is included when a carer applies for a Carers Emergency Card.

The Carers Emergency Card is an initiative run by Wiltshire Council and managed by Carer Support Wiltshire. It will identify an individual as a carer in the event of an accident or emergency and ensure that the person they care-for receives support and care.

Carer Support Wiltshire is a registered charity that offers support, information, advice and break opportunities to people looking after family members and friends across Wiltshire. Find out more at www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse issues. In the 2011 census it showed that there were 47,608 carers who provide unpaid care in Wiltshire.