Carers tackling loneliness via online sessions

Scores of unpaid carers in the Scarboroughareahavedefied lockdown loneliness by turning themselves into digital champions – helping them stay in touch with friends and loved ones in the process.

This transformation has been supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery which helpsfundarangeofcharities including the Carers Trust.

One of the lottery grants, aimed at tackling loneliness, was made to Carers Resource Scarborough and Ryedale.

The group supports carers of all ages, including young carers and young adult carers.

It also encourages the recognition of around 2,000 carers by providing advice, information and support to individual carers; encouraging professionals to work in equal partnership with carers; campaigning in support of carers; identifying and reaching out to new and presently unidentified carers.

The grant has been put to good use by the Scarborough charity to set up a peer support group for older unpaid carers in the area.

CEO of Scarborough and Ryedale Carers Resource, Elizabeth McPherson, said: “It has been a joy for us to watch these carers embrace new technologies and change their lives in the process. Lockdown threatened a disaster because carers – especially those in rural areas – were already severely isolated even before lockdown prevented them from leaving their homes at all.

“But thanks to support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, we’ve been able to adapt quickly – not only getting devices to carers and teaching them how to get online, but also in being able to buy and deliver the props that made every online session such a roaring success.

“I’ll never forget the sheer joy on the faces of all those carers when they turned on their screens for that first Zoom call and saw all their friends there as well.”