This Thursday 16th May, MPs are dedicating a whole 5 hours of their time to a debate on mental health in the House of Commons. Last time this happened, 4 MPs talked about their own experiences of mental illness.
Kingston Carers' Network (KCN) is an independent voluntary sector charity based in Kingston upon Thames.
KCN has been supporting unpaid carers for over a decade, ensuring that carers are listened to and supported by providing a listening ear, are given information and advice about services and support available to carers, know about benefits available and receive regular support through carers' support groups.
Help Us Care For Carers, Join our Trustee Board
We are looking to strengthen our Trustee Board with new members who have an empathy for caring and can devote two/three hours a month as a volunteer trustee.
Support Us
Our work would not be possible without donations from our supporters. Donations help us to provide the much needed services for young and adult carers in Kingston
Who is a carer?
A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. A carer may also be juggling paid work with their unpaid caring responsibilities at home.
Anyone can become a carer; carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age, including children.
There are around 13,000 carers in the borough of Kingston. Carers may not recognise themselves as carers and therefore not seek help and support.
As a result of caring, carers may experience:
- Poorer mental and physical health
- Isolation
- Financial hardship and unemployment
- A lack of recognition by others
