RAISING awareness of the rights of unpaid carers is the theme of this year's Carers Rights Day, which falls today, Thursday.

The pandemic has had a major impact on the lives of carers, affecting access to services, the ability to juggle work and care and much more.

The council say that is why it is more important than ever that carers are aware of their rights and entitlements. A part of these rights is being able to access much-needed support.

The local authority has partnered with Carers UK to launch a new service, free of charge, to support carers to access digital resources that include:

  • E-learning designed to help access to advice and information, build resilience and promote health and wellbeing
  • Access to "Jointly" which is a care coordination app that lets careers store and manage information on the person they are caring for
  • Access to free publications such as Carers UK guides
  • Links to further resources, sources of information and access to a Carers Forum

Oldham Council leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, said: “Oldham carers provide vital support for those most in need and often don’t get the thanks they deserve.

"As a community we wouldn’t have been able to get through the Covid pandemic without their care, so we need to do all we can to support them.

“I’m proud that we can launch this new collaboration to help give carers the rights they deserve.”

Oldham Council’s director of adult social care and managing director of community health and adult social care, Mark Warren, said: “I hope this new support offer can make the lives of Oldham’s carers that bit easier and provide support where they need it.

"I can’t say enough how valuable carers are in Oldham so we must do everything within our power to help them where we can.

“Unpaid carers are the backbone of our community so please remember that if you care for a partner, family member or friend who could not manage without your help, then you are a carer, and help is here for you.”

All carers in Oldham are entitled to free access to this resource by visiting carersdigital.org and creating an account using the access code: DGTL1972

Support can also be accessed by contacting Oldham Carers Service on 0161 770 7777 or by emailing carers.services@oldham.gov.uk.