CARERS IN SUNDERLAND are benefitting from a new package of digital support thanks to an initiative being rolled out across the North East.
As part of the initiative, more than a quarter of a million North East residents who care for a relative or loved one now have free access to a tech-powered scheme designed to provide tailored support for those with caring responsibilities.
Sunderland City Council is one of the 13 local authorities across the North East and Cumbria partnering with technology platform Mobilise to provide services like advice, tools and community networks to carers.
Mobilise is created by carers, for carers, with the aim of offering vital support with the day-to-day realities of caring. The platform gives those with caring responsibilities access to an online peer community of fellow carers, easy to use tools to help with things like accessing Carerโs Allowance, and support with balancing caring with work.
Since its launch in May this year, tens of thousands of carers across the North East have used the service, and Mobiliseโs Carerโs Allowance claim checker tool as enabled eligible unpaid carers to access Carerโs Allowance worth over ยฃ475,000 annually.
Carers can access the support at support.mobiliseonline.co.uk/register-for-the-mobilise-hub
Carers are known to make up more than 10% of the population in the North East; the largest proportion of people supporting relatives or loved ones in any region across the UK. Mobilise aims to identify and connect with people in the area who have caring responsibilities but havenโt previously accessed support, to ensure its available to everyone.
โSunderlandโs unpaid carers are doing an incredible job โ often while balancing caring with other commitments. We recognise this and last year we launched our Carers Strategy to offer them more support.
โPartnering with Mobilise is part of our ongoing commitment to the cityโs carers, offering them an extra layer of support whether thatโs advice around Carerโs Allowance or simply connecting people with shared experiences.โ
Sunderland City Councilโs Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Safer Communities, Councillor Kelly Chequer
โI know first-hand the difference that peer and expert support can make to caregivers. We also know that there are over a quarter of a million carers living in the North East of England who could use this support, and itโs heartening to see them accessing it through Mobilise.
โSince Mobilise was rolled out by local authorities in the North East just a few months ago, our online community has welcomed carers from Sunderland and beyond. Already, weโre already seeing new connections being forged between fellow carers, users of our Carers Allowance tool discovering the financial support they are entitled to, and people who have long looked after loved ones engaging with expert support for the first time. Weโre excited to continue this important work alongside Sunderland City Council, as one of the 13 local authorities in the region who are helping us to make enhanced, on-demand support for carers possible.โ
James Townsend, Co-Founder and CEO at Mobilise
