National Carers Week: Fife carers ‘backbone of our health & social care system’

Fife Health and Social Care Partnership teamed up with other organisations in the Kingdom to thank them for all that they do, and to shine a light on the support available to them.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities. The 2024 theme was ‘Putting Carers on the Map.'

It meant a packed programme of events, starting with a carers’ conference, organised by Fife Carers Centre on Monday. Nicky Connor, FHSCP director, and Jennifer Rezende, principal social worker, spoke at the event, highlighting the important role carer’s play.

Nicky Connor said: ““It’s great to be able to celebrate these unsung heroes of our communities in Fife. Unpaid carers give their time and energy to care for loved ones, friends, family and neighbours and their dedication is the backbone of our health and social care system.”

Last year Fife Integration Joint Board (IJB) approved a new carers strategy for the region which was shaped by the views of unpaid carers. In addition, Morna Fleming was appointed carers' representative on the board in April 2016 to ensure the voices of carers across the Kingdom are heard.

She said: “My role is to be the voice of unpaid carers when proposals are being discussed. To do this, I have a 'constituency' of unpaid carers who have participated in various engagement events with the Partnership, and can be asked for their views which I will then present at meetings.

“I’m also looking forward to the development of the Carers' Forum, which will enable a number of unpaid carers to meet face to face if they can, to share their experiences, and to further ensure that their voices are heard loudly and clearly.”

Fiona McKay, head of strategic planning, performance and commissioning at the Partnership added: “We recognise the huge contribution Fife’s carers make. Carer’s week really does give us a chance to celebrate them and pay tribute to their hard work.”