Brummie Carers Get Their Own Virtual Assistant – Bridgit

New Online Support for Carers 
Thanks to one of Birmingham Carers Hub’s Delivery Partners, Bridgit Care, Carers registered with our service can now access their own virtual assistant, Bridgit. To launch this new service, we are hosting online demonstration sessions at the beginning of September (see dates below). 

This online tool (accessible in multiple languages) provides:
• Self-Help
• Health Advice and
• Access to your FREE digital Carer Friendly Photo ID Card.

Self-Help
As a Carer you may often find yourselves waiting; waiting for an appointment with a health professional, social worker, a response from the council etc. This situation is frustrating and can make you feel helpless and powerless. Bridgit, fills the ‘waiting’ gap and empowers you to find information, advice and support for yourself. Instead of spending time trawling through the internet, Bridgit, has all the information in one convenient place that can be accessed day or night, all year round.

Bridgit, is designed to be user-friendly with simple navigation and a clean layout, so you can explore comfortably even if you have limited digital skills.

Designed by Carers and care experts, Bridgit allows you to explore advice around your caring role, get support in relation to your wellbeing, finances and employment as well as encouraging you to actually think about yourself and your life goals.

You can discover local and national support services in addition to local events. All of this information is then pulled into a ‘self-care plan’ that you have built yourself around your own specific needs.

Health Advice
Using content supplied by the NHS website, you can look up your own health conditions as well as those of the person you care for, including information about any medications and their side effects. There are even tools to check your heart age, blood pressure, and mood including access to a personal quit smoking plan.

Carer Friendly ID Card and Discounts (Coming soon)
The platform will also host Forward Carers award-winning digital ‘Carer Friendly Photo ID Card’ which is the easiest way to verify you’re an unpaid Carer when out and about. Being a Carer often has a financial impact, the card* provides a gateway to discounts and offers when shopping online or when out and about (where sourced). In addition, you can gain peace of mind as the card incorporates In Case of Emergency (ICE) contact details.  

Online Demonstration Sessions
Watch this short clip for an overview of Bridgit and how this online tool can help you in each area of your life. To launch this new service and so you get the most out of the platform, Forward Carers and Bridgit Care will be hosting online demonstration sessions: 

• Carers Session: Monday, 4 September 2023, 1.00 pm to 1.30 pm, book your free place here.  
• NNS and Group Facilitators Session: Tuesday, 5 September 2023 at 1.00 pm to 1.30 pm, book your free place here.
• GP and HealthCare Professionals Session: Wednesday, 6 September 2023 at 1.00 pm to 1.30 pm, book your free place here. 

“Getting help for carers who do an invaluable but often unseen job, unpaid, is at the centre of everything we do. Working with carers and care professionals in Birmingham has been a great experience for us and I hope this truly local online tool encourages people to come forward and sign up as a carer to get all the support that is available.” 

Darren Crombie, founder of Bridgit

“We are absolutely delighted to announce our exciting partnership with Bridgit Care, dedicated to providing exceptional support for unpaid carers nationwide. Together, we are combining Bridgit Care’s comprehensive online support system and self-help plans with Forward Carers’ user-friendly, digital Carer Friendly ID Card. This powerful collaboration aims to empower Carers by offering easy access to a wealth of resources, online support groups, discounts and offers, and crucial emergency contact details, ensuring their well-being and peace of mind.” 

Chantell Marler, Head of Service for Forward Carers

Further Information
The Bridgit tool can be found here.
You can find out more about the Carer Friendly Photo ID Card here. As a Carer registered with Birmingham Carers Hub, you can apply for your FREE digital card (details to follow soon).

*Birmingham Carers will only be eligible to receive a free physical card if they do not have access to a smartphone/device. For any Carers in Birmingham who have a smartphone but are unable to connect to data due to living costs, please visit this page.