"Wonderful" work of Carers Network celebrated at second annual Caring in the Community event
The work of UHDB's Carers Staff Network has been praised by carers and those they care for by those who attended the second Caring in the Community event recently (Friday 3 May).
Attendees were able to meet other carers and seek information and support from more than 40 national and regional charities and organisations, including Carers UK, who were at the event, which aims to bring carers from across the Midlands together to help them get the support they need.
Will Monaghan, Executive Chief Digital Information Officer at UHDB, and Executive Sponsor of the Carers Network, opened the event at the Hilton Hotel at St George's Park, Burton, which was attended by special guests including His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenants of Derby and Staffordshire, Ms Elizabeth Fothergill CBE and Mr Ian Dudson. The High Sheriffs of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, Mr Ian Morgan OBE and Ms Julia Mitchell, with MP for Burton, Kate Kniveton were also in attendance.
Rachel Kirby, Deputy Lead for the UHDB Carers Network, is a carer for her father, and came up with the idea for the event based on her lived experiences and the desire to help other carers who are going through similar experiences - which led her to plan and organise the event to ensure carers receive the support they need.
She said: "We are delighted to have been able to welcome so many people to our event for the second year running and provide them with support and guidance as they continue on their journey as a carer.
"As people who have experience as carers, Jemma and I are so passionate about continuing to do all we can to enhance the support we're able to offer to everyone and continue to shine a light on the vital role carers play.
"Thank you to everyone who has helped us along the way and helped to make our event a success."
Opening the event, Will Monaghan praised the tireless work of the Network in improving the working lives of UHDB colleagues with caring responsibilities, as well as their efforts to support members of the community across Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and beyond.
He said: "I grew up as a carer, so to be part of an organisation that values working carers and does everything it can to support them and their families, as well as those carers in our communities, means a lot.
"This event has been a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the difference those carers make at our Trust and in our communities. It has also provided us with a chance to thank Jemma and Rachel from our Carers Staff Network for their huge contributions not only to this event, but to helping us improve the lives of carers at UHDB."
Following another successful event for a second year running, Rachel and colleagues from the UHDB Carers Network are keen to continue to making a difference to carers within the Trust and our local communities.
Rachel added: "We are so pleased to see people from across the region coming together for this event, and we hope it has provided them with the help and support they need.
"Being a carer is not easy, and can present a lot of challenges - a lot of which you don't anticipate when you first become someone's carer.
"It's important for us that we continue to do all we can to provide that vital support and work with the Trust to ensure carer colleagues are aware of and have access to the resources they need to help them both inside and outside of work."