Salford Disability Forum celebrates Carers Rights Day

Salford is celebrating Carers Rights Day – an impactful day that encourages everyone to reflect on their caring journey. 

Thousands of people provide unpaid care to look after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, disability, a mental health problem or an ki li addiction, and cannot cope without support.

This year’s theme is ‘recognising your rights’ and the aim is to help carers to access the support available to them, whenever they need it.

Kay Fairhurst, who has been the secretary of Salford Disability Forum for 17 years, said: “A lot of people don’t know where to go to find out information about what they need, particularly disability.”

The forum, a registered charity, helps disabled people in Salford living with a long term health condition, and advocates for people who need assistance.

The forum also signposts sessions, goes out to community buildings and provides information about the services in Salford.

The charity also works with older disability groups, and runs a work club every Thursday at Langworthy Cornerstone, for anyone looking for jobs in Salford.

She said: “We are all volunteers, and everybody has a disability. Our chairman is deaf and blind.

“I have an eye condition and a physical disability as well. The difficulty is that a lot of carers don’t see themselves in that light.

“They don’t realise they’re carers, they aren’t comfortable putting that title on themselves. They see it as something they’re doing as a family member.”

An annnual Salford Council of £1,000 pays for rent and towards running costs like printing and travel expenses.

She said: “We are always looking for funding to get interpreters who end up always being busy.

“We are quite lucky because as volunteers we don’t generate a lot of financial troubles, but trying to recruit people can be quite difficult. Not everyone wants to speak for themselves, they prefer being a social group.”

For more details of the organisation – call 07592 100 538, or email chair@salforddisabilityforum.com. Anyone interested in volunteering, can click here.