National Lottery award to help us support even more carers

14th October 2024

We’re celebrating following a National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund which will help us to support even more people in Blackburn with Darwen.

Our charity has been supporting carers across the area for twenty years, and we’re delighted that we’ve been awarded the three years National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund totalling £287,763, which will help to connect, support and empower carers in the local community.

Sam Morris, CEO of our charity, said: “There are so many people in Blackburn with Darwen who are caring for others and it’s vital they urgently receive ongoing help and support.

“In the two decades we’ve been working alongside local people we know how important it is to meet carers where they are.  To be beside them and to help them build local networks, as well as giving them practical assistance around finances, physical and mental health, activities and respite and other signposting and connections.

“It’s amazing to have received this funding from the National Lottery to help us provide truly holistic support to local carers.”

Our charity provides a wide range of specialist support services and activities for those who provide unpaid care to a friend, family member or loved one who couldn’t manage without their help.

Services are personalised to the individual to ensure they are empowered with the information, skills and support needed to help them thrive both in their role as a carer, and as an individual with their own wishes and needs too.

Sam added: “Many people don’t even see themselves as carers, but do have responsibility for supporting others every day.  We’re here to help them with whatever makes that role easier and importantly to help build and nurture connections and networks as many people feed back to us that they can often feel on their own or a bit lost.  We work alongside them to help build self esteem and ultimately to hopefully mean they are less isolated in what can be a very challenging and demanding role.

“The cost-of-living crisis has hit all of us hard and as a charity it’s always difficult to know what a huge need there is for services whilst also having to ensure donations and funding are still coming through the door to enable them to be delivered.

“This latest funding will help fund a carers adviser, activity coordinator, benefits worker, volunteer coordinator and other elements of our work, including counselling support for local people.  We can’t wait to see the impact on the lives of carers in Blackburn with Darwen and want to say thanks again to the National Lottery team for their ongoing belief in our specialist expertise and in enabling us to continue this important work.”

Thanks to the National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund, carers will also be supported to attend groups, activities, trips and befriending sessions, as well as therapy, wellbeing and respite services.  The funding will also help carers and volunteers to gain new skills and share their experiences to improve places for them across the community. Our team at Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service will also be delivering increased numbers of carer assessments with local people, and will support increased benefit claims and appeals as well as crisis support.