Devon Carers made a huge difference for Bampton family
A moving testimony has been made by a Mum of Two as she explains the difference Devon Carers has made for her – and her family.
Bampton resident Susan Herring appears in a short video on YouTube where she talks about how the free service, by Westbank Community Health and Care, has positively impacted her life.
‘Devon Carers, for me, means a break from sometimes an existence I don’t want to face,’ she says. ‘It means I talk to other people, it means I get a laugh with other people.’
‘I can honestly say, after all this time, the best thing for anybody is being able to talk to other people because when you laugh with other people, who are struggling as well, you get the biggest belly laughs anywhere because everybody is desperate.’
‘(It’s) that feeling that they can let rip and it’s what we need and just having somebody there when you’re supporting other people that you know is supporting you – and that’s a good feeling.’
Susan was put in touch with Devon Carers following a referral to talking therapies. She is a carer for her husband who has two forms of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and problems with his eyes and back. She also cares her two sons.
‘I realised I needed a regular break occasionally,’ she says. ‘I think the fact that I recognised I was a carer and I recognised I was under pressure started to make other people realise how much pressure I had been under.’
Celebrating 25 years of supporting unpaid carers
Devon Carers is currently celebrating 25 years of supporting unpaid carers across the county. It’s planning several events throughout the coming year as part of its landmark anniversary.
The charity provides a wide range of support services to those who look after family members or friends because they are ill, frail, or have a disability, mental health or substance misuse problem.
Over the last two and a half decades, Westbank’s Devon Carers has grown to be one of the largest charitable organisations in the UK. Around 2,500 under eighteen-year-olds are registered with Devon Young Carers.
The service continues to grow with thousands of carers joining each year, on average 200 – 300 per month.
‘There’s been a big increase over the last 25 years in terms of the support services we provide to carers, but we have big ambitions to reach even more adults and young people who help friends and family to cope with a range of health and mobility issues,’ says Andy Hood, Head of Devon Carers.
‘Another of our goals is to reach people earlier in their caring journey. If we can get to them with a combination of advice and support when they first receive the diagnosis for the person they care for, generally it prevents them from reaching a crisis point.’
‘Early intervention makes an enormous difference to most people.’
