Yesterday saw our annual Carers Event take place, in Stanley Park’s Isla Gladstone Conservatory. The free event took place to provide information and advice for any unpaid carers that need it. The event involved 40 organisations from around Liverpool, all there to show what benefit and support they can provide for carers.

The day began with speeches from Local Solutions’ chairman, Nigel Lanceley, and our head of carers services, Hazel Brown, introducing visitors to the event and what the charity aims to provide to the local area. These were followed by a few words from 3 adult carers, who gave touching testimonials on their experiences as a carer and how our Mytime initiative has helped them with this, by providing them with a break that they deserve. Following the members of Local Solutions who spoke, Liverpool City Council’s Martin Farran and the NHS’s Carole Hill spoke about how their organisations are working towards better collaboration and understanding of the support that carers need. Liverpool’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Wendy Simon, formally launched the city’s “Integrated All-age Carers Strategy”, which aims to support all those that need it and encourage all agencies to recognise and respond to the needs of carers and finally the event was officially declared open by a short speech from the city’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Peter Brennan.

As well as the informative focus of the day, there were many different activities offered for carers to take part in; including hairdressing sessions, arts and crafts, zumba, smoothie bike rides and a cake competition. It was inspirational to see Liverpool’s carers having fun and thinking about themselves for a change, while also gaining valuable information and contacts at the same time.

There is estimated to be over 50,000 carers in Liverpool, so here at Mytime we want to provide as many of these carers with as many breaks and things to look forward to as possible. Our aim is to lessen the negative impacts that individuals may face with being a carer, by offering carers with an opportunity to destress and relax themselves. We hope that by promoting ourselves at this years Carers Event we have made more carers aware of the services that we offer through the kindness of many local businesses.

If you think you could benefit from our Mytime’s services, or know anyone who does, please contact us here to find out more.

To see all of our photos from the event, please visit our flickr.