The new national lockdown has put even more pressure on carers, a charity has said.

Unpaid carers looking after vulnerable friends or relatives said the current situation is affecting their physical and mental health.

There are an estimated 21,000 unpaid carers in the town, and Swindon Carers Centre is working directly with around 4,000 of these. 

Chief executive Susanna Jones said: “Coronavirus has hit all of us in different ways as we struggle to juggle financial insecurity, working from home, home-schooling, furloughing, and fundamental changes to our lives.

“Carers looking after someone with dementia are at huge risk of loneliness and isolation. These are very challenging roles outside the additional pressures of pandemic and lockdown.

“Many of us have continued with unpaid caring roles for family or friends too, providing shopping, medical supplies, prescriptions and that all-important, but hugely challenging, emotional support."

Some were trying to continue working alongside their caring duties and faced significant health, wellbeing and financial challenges. "It is not sustainable long term without respite and support – and in the case of employers, flexibility.

“Unpaid carers need to be supported and we have to recognise their resources, however strong, are not infinite and that they are not a contingency plan that will always be able to step it up when the system is under pressure or fails.”

Young carers were having to deal with online schooling, isolation from their friends and their exams being cancelled. Some might not have access to digital resources for online support. The charity had to suspend face-to-face groups and activities for all carers to minimise the risk to them and the people they cared for. But it offers alternatives, with trained staff and volunteers carrying out assessments and support via the phone, video calls and email.

Susanna said: “Feedback from our carers during this pandemic has shown that isolation and financial insecurities has driven an increase in mental health needs for those carrying out a caring role.

“Not being able to see other carers, socially or as part of an organised group, is not helping and we know that peer support is so crucial to a carer’s own health and wellbeing. Individual situations are often more complicated too.”

The charity has recruited two new volunteers to support with the increase in demand around financial concerns from carers.

For information visit swindoncarers.org.uk