Carers Card
Forward Carers launched a Carers Card at the end of last year as part of our mission to create Carer Friendly Brum. We want to raise the profile of Carers so that they are recognised and valued in the community. This photo ID card is a visible sign that you are a Carer and includes emergency contact information reassuring you that in the event of an accident, the person you care for will receive the help they need. The card is available to Carers who are registered with Birmingham Carers Hub, if you are not registered, just sign up here or call 0333 006 9711.
This scheme was introduced on Carers Rights Day (21 November 2019) and will eventually be incorporated into local communities, businesses and within local NHS hospital and GPs meaning that Carers like you will be better supported at an earlier stage, with positive consequences for your health, wellbeing and financial security. This means that if you’re caring for someone, local services and systems will remove obstacles and make sure things are done differently so your life is a little bit easier.
Online Discounts
We have also introduced an online discount scheme bringing further benefits both to carers and businesses (see below). Make cooking at home easy with discounted recipe boxes delivered straight to your door. There are lots of discounts for you to enjoy from mobile phone deals to savings on clothes. Some discounts are for a limited time only, so grab then while you can!
The Carers Card is a great tool for increasing carers’ visibility and a discount scheme acts as a small token of recognition for the importance of the caring role, as well as helping to alleviate its impact on household finances. The Card is free to apply for and will easily fit in your purse of wallet so you can take it with you wherever you go.
How can the Carers Card help me during the Covid-19 outbreak?
We have seen a surge in applications from Carers requesting a Carers Card during the Covid-19 outbreak due to the rise of identity checks being made when travelling to safely deliver groceries or medication for the person they care for. For example, one Carer was stopped and questioned by police with regards to his reason to be out and about and was able to show his card to verify his identity and validate his journey. The Carers Card can be used in certain supermarkets during the dedicated shopping hours for vulnerable customers and key workers as proof of their identity. For a more details on which supermarkets are participating in this scheme, the times and locations, please click here.
Your Questions Answered
Chantell and Georgina from Forward Carers were live on Facebook during Carers Week telling Carers all about the Carers Card, if you missed it, you can watch it here and get your questions answered. Alternatively, take a look at our new Carers Card Frequently Asked Questions list which we hope should clarify any queries you may have.