Credu received funding through the Short Breaks Scheme that enabled over 800 carers and family members facing acute pressures and marginalisation to have a restorative short break. It supports unpaid carers looking after someone who is unwell or disabled, across Powys, Wrexham, Conwy, Denbighshire and Ceredigion.
What is the significance of your organisation’s name?
Credu means ‘believe’ in Welsh. We believe that all young and adult carers should enjoy well-being as they define it, be recognised and valued and have choices, voice and influence. We believe in people, whether they are carers, people who are cared for, or health and social care professionals. Most of all we believe in coming together to create a better, kinder, more compassionate world for unpaid carers. What’s wonderful is that if we do that for unpaid carers, we will do it for everybody.
What is your approach to the work you do?
We listen to understand people and give them the opportunity to listen to themselves to shape what they want to happen next. We value, prize and appreciate people, reflecting their strengths, skills and gifts and understand them for the problems that they face and not the problems that they cause.
Who was your Short Breaks project for?
Our project, called ‘Amser Gofalwyr’, was for young and adult carers in Powys and Ceredigion, as well as young carers across Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham.
Did you reach new carers?
We supported over 170 carers who were new to our organisation. Many carers don’t identify as carers so they don’t know about the support available to them.
The Short Breaks Scheme is a door to connecting with other carers and statutory service providers.
It is helping create communities that appreciate and value unpaid carers as well as supporting unpaid carers with practical help.
What types of activities did your carers do?
By listening to carers, we were able to support them to do the things that would make the greatest difference to them. We supported everything from sea kayaking to a horticulture course, also local rock-schools, stand-up paddleboard yoga classes, and the purchase of a climbing frame and slide.
Did you offer any group activities?
Yes, as well as highly personalised breaks, the scheme provided collective opportunities, such as wellbeing days, nature days, family breaks, and residential breaks. Small peer group activity breaks were organised for young carers with autism and social anxiety and we offered respite for families experiencing extreme pressure and marginalisation.
I remember one group activity in particular, where ten carers from across Ceredigion, ranging in ages from 20 to 80, with a variety of caring roles, attended a spa and lunch day at The Cliff Hotel. Set high on a cliff overlooking Cardigan Bay, the hotel is a favourite with carers in Ceredigion, as it feels like being on holiday. Carers relaxed in a two-hour session in the spa and then enjoyed a long, leisurely lunch at a window table overlooking the bay. The carers really appreciated the time out from their caring role and the quality time spent together connecting with other carers. We also had comments back saying how nice it was to feel appreciated.
Can a short break or activity really make any difference?
From the short break at the Cliff Hotel, we learnt that a simple day out like this could provide a mental and physical break for the carers. The combination of a smaller group activity followed by food and a chance to connect more deeply with other carers resulted in some heartfelt and empathic conversations between attendees.
We have found that even short periods of time for yourself can have a long-term impact on how you feel about yourself and your situation
They can connect you to others in positive networks of association and support and creates a confidence and positivity that enables possibility to come into people’s lives.
What were the challenges?
All carers deserve a break, to be supported and heard. Because funding is limited it was hard to only fund a small percentage of our carers. I’m really proud of the Welsh Government’s scheme, but let’s remember that just over 300,000 people in Wales identified as unpaid carers in the last census. The Short Breaks Scheme aims to give 30,000 carers a break over two years year, so for every carer who receives the wonderful gift of a break, nine can’t.
Overall, what went well with your project?
Caring for others is what makes us most human and represents our society at its best. Being able to recognise and affirm the empathy and compassion of carers by doing something for them that is helpful and humanising, has had a massive impact on those who have experienced short breaks.
The Short Breaks Scheme has been a step change
It has been hugely important to young and adult carers that have benefited and it is picking up momentum, significantly. The fund has opened opportunities for carers to have a break together and individually, depending on need and preferences. It has allowed them to experience being valued, prized and appreciated through having their contribution to their families, communities and society recognised and affirmed.
The communal short breaks have also given carers the opportunities to take part in positive and affirmative networks of association and support and to think more about how to build in breaks into caring as they move forward.