Thursday 24th November is Carers Rights Day. Each year, Carers Rights Day takes place to ensure that those caring unpaid for family and friends are aware of their rights and know where they can get help and support. It is also about raising awareness of caring – it can take people several years to recognise themselves as a carer.
This year, Carers UK’s ‘Caring Costs’ campaign is focused on raising awareness of the various costs carers face – from the financial costs associated with looking after someone, to the impact caring can have on people’s ability to work, and the quality of their relationships.
Aberconwy MP Robin Millar is working with Carers UK to help to ensure that unpaid carers throughout Aberconwy understand their rights and can access the support that is available to them as soon as they need it. It is vital that carers are empowered with information and support so that they can feel confident asking for what they need and can challenge things when their rights are not being met.
Commenting on Carers Rights Day, Robin said:
“Unpaid carers are unsung heroes and make an invaluable contribution to our communities. I understand many of challenges and difficulties that they face. Being an unpaid carer is often a very lonely and isolating experience and, throughout the pandemic, the increased isolation must have made caring even more difficult.
"I believe it is important to give unpaid carers the recognition for their role and invaluable work, support through training and career assessments - and access to respite schemes. If you are an unpaid carer, you can apply for a £500 payment from the Welsh Government that has been made possible through record funding from the UK Government."
Continuing, Robin said:
“I know how precious their time is, but I’d like to encourage unpaid carers throughout Aberconwy to review Carers UK’s Wales specific ‘Looking After Someone’ guide which outlines peoples’ rights as a carer and gives an overview of the practical and financial support available to them.
“Carers can access this guide, along with information about Carers UK’s free helpline, information and advice resources and a directory of local support groups by visiting me website at www.robin-millar.org.uk/carers . As always, if any further assistance is required or if carers have any concerns that they are not receiving the support that they need, they can contact me at robin.millar.mp@parliament.uk or call my office on 01492 583094.”
AS Aberconwy yn Cefnogi Diwrnod Hawliau Gofalwyr
Mae dydd Iau 24 Tachwedd yn Ddiwrnod Hawliau Gofalwyr. Bob blwyddyn, cynhelir Diwrnod Hawliau Gofalwyr i sicrhau bod y rhai sy’n gofalu am deulu a ffrindiau yn ddi-dâl yn ymwybodol o’u hawliau ac yn gwybod ble y gallant gael cymorth a chefnogaeth. Mae hefyd yn ymwneud â chodi ymwybyddiaeth o ofalu – gall gymryd sawl blwyddyn i bobl gydnabod eu hunain fel gofalwr.
Eleni, mae ymgyrch ‘Costau Gofalu’ Carers UK yn canolbwyntio ar godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r costau amrywiol y mae gofalwyr yn eu hwynebu – o’r costau ariannol sy’n gysylltiedig â gofalu am rywun, i’r effaith y gall gofalu ei chael ar allu pobl i weithio, ac ansawdd eu perthnasoedd.
Mae AS Aberconwy, Robin Millar, yn gweithio gyda Carers UK i helpu i sicrhau bod gofalwyr di-dâl ledled Aberconwy yn deall eu hawliau, ac yn gallu cael mynediad at y cymorth sydd ar gael iddynt cyn gynted ag y bydd ei angen arnynt. Mae’n hanfodol bod gofalwyr yn cael eu grymuso â gwybodaeth a chymorth. O ganlyniad, gallant deimlo’n hyderus yn gofyn am yr hyn sydd ei angen arnynt, a gallant herio pethau pan nad yw eu hawliau’n cael eu bodloni.
Wrth sôn am Ddiwrnod Hawliau Gofalwyr, dywedodd Robin:
“Mae gofalwyr di-dâl yn arwyr di-glod ac yn gwneud cyfraniad amhrisiadwy i'n cymunedau. Rwy’n deall llawer o’r heriau a’r anawsterau y maent yn eu hwynebu. Mae bod yn ofalwr di-dâl yn aml yn brofiad unig ac ynysig iawn a, thrwy gydol y pandemig, mae’n rhaid bod yr unigedd cynyddol wedi gwneud gofalu hyd yn oed yn fwy anodd.
“Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig rhoi cydnabyddiaeth i ofalwyr di-dâl am eu rôl a'u gwaith amhrisiadwy, cefnogaeth iddynt trwy hyfforddiant ac asesiadau gyrfa - a mynediad i gynlluniau seibiant. Os ydych yn ofalwr di-dâl, gallwch wneud cais am daliad o £500 gan Lywodraeth Cymru, sydd wedi’i gwneud yn bosibl drwy’r cyllid mwyaf erioed gan Lywodraeth y DU."
Gan barhau, meddai Robin:
“Rydw i’n gwybod pa mor werthfawr yw eu hamser, ond hoffwn annog gofalwyr di-dâl ledled Aberconwy i adolygu canllaw penodol i Gymru ‘Gofalu am Rywun’ Carers UK, sy’n amlinellu hawliau pobl fel gofalwyr ac yn rhoi trosolwg o’r cymorth ymarferol ac ariannol sydd ar gael iddyn nhw.
“Gall gofalwyr gael mynediad at y canllaw hwn, ynghyd â gwybodaeth am linell gymorth rhad ac am ddim Carers UK, adnoddau gwybodaeth a chyngor, a chyfeiriadur o grwpiau cymorth lleol, trwy ymweld â mi fy ngwefan yn www.robin-millar.org.uk/carers. Fel bob amser, os oes angen unrhyw gymorth pellach neu os oes gan ofalwyr unrhyw bryderon nad ydynt yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt, gallant gysylltu â mi yn robin.millar.mp@parliament.uk neu ffonio fy swyddfa ar 01492 583094.”