Asian Business Awards Finalist
We are pleased to announce that Birmingham Carers Hub is a finalist in the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in two categories Outstanding Business resilience in COVID19 and Outstanding Charity of the Year.
This is why we have been shortlisted to win.
Our response to Covid-19:
Birmingham Carers Hub partners, supported by Forward Carers, worked relentlessly to step-up for Carers. We set-up new services in response to the new challenges Carers faced and we found creative ways to continue supporting families. Our ethos was to reach out to Carers, listen to what families needed and act quickly.
100% of Birmingham Carers Hub partners continued to deliver services throughout this time and we set up new projects to make sure we reached Carers from diverse backgrounds. Below is a snapshot of the past year:
6654 Befriending phone calls
Our telephone service asked Carers how they were coping and what they needed.
Over £400,000 distributed in Emergency and Wellbeing Payments:
We applied for funds from Birmingham City Council and within six weeks of lockdown fast-tracked a new Emergency Payments scheme for families who were financially struggling, alongside our existing wellbeing fund.
“Thank you to the Carers Hub for helping me get some financial help during this terrible period when our family has struggled financially and emotionally”.
Keeping families safe and connected
Our Coronavirus Advice for Carers web page and weekly email to over 7,500 helped Carers stay safe and connected. We also helped co-ordinate vaccine access and PPE for local Carers.
“thank you for keeping in touch via carers update during this pandemic… I have found this and your resources most helpful.”
2338 Carers attended 175 online groups:
Our online groups attended by 2338 Carers brought people together and reduced isolation, over time they became a place of laughter and warmth.
“As a Carer, support via zoom is one of the positives to come out of all of this”.
836 One-to-one sessions
We organised ‘doorstep visits’ as well as phone support to keep people’s spirits up.
“Your advice has been amazing, caring is very hard at the best of times but at least we know you are there to help”.
Over £400,000 distributed in Emergency and Wellbeing Payments:
We applied for funds from Birmingham City Council and within six weeks of lockdown fast-tracked a new Emergency Payments scheme for families who were financially struggling, alongside our existing wellbeing fund.
“Thank you to the Carers Hub for helping me get some financial help during this terrible period when our family has struggled financially and emotionally”.
Keeping families safe and connected
Our Coronavirus Advice for Carers web page and weekly email to over 7,500 helped Carers stay safe and connected. We also helped co-ordinate vaccine access and PPE for local Carers.
“thank you for keeping in touch via carers update during this pandemic… I have found this and your resources most helpful.”
2338 Carers attended 175 online groups:
Our online groups attended by 2338 Carers brought people together and reduced isolation, over time they became a place of laughter and warmth.
“As a Carer, support via zoom is one of the positives to come out of all of this”.
836 One-to-one sessions
We organised ‘doorstep visits’ as well as phone support to keep people’s spirits up.
“Your advice has been amazing, caring is very hard at the best of times but at least we know you are there to help”.
100s of food parcels and recipe kits
Delivered to young adult carers who cook for their families and food parcels to struggling families:
“…You don’t realise how much this support has helped my mental health and my family”.
1690 Carer ID Cards
Forward Carers launched a Carer ID Card so Carers could easily identify themselves and verify their reasons for leaving the house to provide care during the lockdowns. The card was distributed to 1690 Carers via Birmingham Carers Hub, helping Carers access priority services, such as shopping hours.
“thank God I had my Carers Card to prove I was a Carer and needed to bring my son with me.”
Carers and families are at the heart of our work, because they are the hearts of our wonderful communities. This past year was tough, but we were inspired by the incredible hard work and dedication of Birmingham’s Carers to achieve more than we knew was possible
The Birmingham Carers Hub service is delivered by a diverse number of not-for-profit organisations and managed by Forward Carers.
