Caring Responsibilities Project 2012

'Caring for carers': Compliance with legislation and beyond

This project was completed in June 2012. The final report was published in February 2013 and can be found here. Three priority recommendations for staff, and three for students, have been identified and the Caring for Carers Project Manager is taking these forward.

Who is a carer?

Are you a parent?
Do you look after an elderly person or a disabled person?

Then you are a carer.

A carer is someone who spends unpaid time looking after or supporting a relative, child, partner, neighbour or friends who is frail, ill, has a physical or learning disability, mental health problems or substance misuse problems.

This support may be in the form of help with personal tasks such as dressing, or practical tasks such as shopping or cooking, or emotional support and supervision.

A carer does not have to live with the person for whom they care.

Below is a summary of the activities that took place as part of this Project

Caring for Carers Activities
Tuesday Taster, 13 March 2012 We had a good turn out at the Tuesday Taster session, with many interesting questions and suggestions that have been taken into consideration when developing the Project's recommendations. View the slides (.ppt) Stall at Dignity & Respect Unity Festival, 14 March 2012 The Project Team, together with a representative from Action for Family Carers, Afternoon Tea for Carers, 21 March 2012 The event was a success and we had very positive feedback from those attending it. Pictures from the Afternoon Tea can be seen on our facebook page. Drop-in sessions, Southend Campus, 29 March and 27 April 2012 Two drop-in sessions were held in Southend, giving staff and students an opportunity to find out more about how they could get involved in the project and what support is available. Survey, 25 April to 1 June 2012 Staff and students were given the opportunity to let the Project Team know what they thought the University could be doing to better support its carers in their work and/or studies by completing our survey. Tuesday Taster, 19 February 2013 This session was used to report the main findings and recommendations of the project. View the slides (.ppt)

Caring for Carers Activities

Tuesday Taster, 13 March 2012

We had a good turn out at the Tuesday Taster session, with many interesting questions and suggestions that have been taken into consideration when developing the Project's recommendations.
View the slides (.ppt)

Stall at Dignity & Respect Unity Festival, 14 March 2012

The Project Team, together with a representative from Action for Family Carers,

Afternoon Tea for Carers, 21 March 2012

The event was a success and we had very positive feedback from those attending it. Pictures from the Afternoon Tea can be seen on our facebook page.

Drop-in sessions, Southend Campus, 29 March and 27 April 2012

Two drop-in sessions were held in Southend, giving staff and students an opportunity to find out more about how they could get involved in the project and what support is available.

Survey, 25 April to 1 June 2012

Staff and students were given the opportunity to let the Project Team know what they thought the University could be doing to better support its carers in their work and/or studies by completing our survey.

Tuesday Taster, 19 February 2013
This session was used to report the main findings and recommendations of the project. View the slides (.ppt)

Background to the project

In October 2010, the Equality Act increased protection for people from 'discrimination by association'. This means that those who care for someone with a disability, or an elderly relative, for example, are protected from discrimination. The Act also protects women outside the workplace from discrimination that arises as a result of pregnancy and maternity, and so this project will be considering the needs of staff and students with childcare responsibilities.

The Caring Responsibilities Project has been launched to raise awareness of the support available both within and outside the University to working carers, and to ensure the University is doing as much as possible to support carers. We will be reviewing relevant policies, procedures and practices at the university to identify the barriers facing students and staff who are juggling caring responsibilities with their studies or work, and will be making recommendations to improve provision, support and information for carers to improve their overall experiences at the University.

Protection from discrimination

The Equality Act 2010 brings together various pieces of legislation on equality into one single act, and extends some rights to groups not previously covered. For the first time, carers have protection from direct discrimination. This means that employers and providers of goods and services must not treat carers less favourably than those without caring responsibilities.

For more information:

visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau
visit the Home Office website
contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission: England (Telephone: 0845 604 6610 or Textphone: 0845 604 6620)
Carers UK
Essex Carers Network
Essex County Council - Carers
Carers' Week 2012 (18th - 24th June 2012)
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
NHS Carers Direct
Working Families

Local charities supporting carers in Essex and Suffolk

Find us on facebook for updates and opportunities to network with other carers.