Rights day to bring festive cheer

Rochdale Borough Council is trying to put more money into the pockets of thousands of people looking after sick or disabled relatives to celebrate Carers Rights Day.

For this year’s Carers Rights Day, on 5 December, the council’s carers resource service is holding special benefits and financial advice sessions for carers throughout the borough.
Council cabinet member for health and social care, Councillor Dale Mulgrew, said: “We think we have around 22,000 people in the borough who are carers: people who look after a relative or a child, partner or friend because they are ill, frail or have a disability. They make a huge difference to the lives of vulnerable people. Yet many live in poverty and nationally £740m of carers’ benefits go unclaimed each year.

“These sessions will help put more money into carers’ pockets by helping them claim benefits and get financial advice as well as giving more general advice on rights and meeting needs.”

The sessions will be held at:

• Middleton, on 1 December, at Comple@t Internet Café, Fountain Street, between 1 - 3pm 
• Heywood, on 2 December, at Heywood Magic Training Suite, between 10am - 12 noon 
• Rochdale and Pennines, on 5 December, at The Carers’ Resource, 7 Water Street 10am - 3pm

The Carers Resource is one of more than 1000 groups across the UK who will be taking part in Carers Rights Day, a national awareness day organised by Carers UK.