A national military charity is reaching out to thousands of ‘hidden’ carers of vision impaired veterans in Brighton and across Sussex during this year’s Carers Week (9 – 15 June).
Blind Veterans UK, a national charity for vision impaired veterans and their families, has pledged its support to Carers Week, a national awareness campaign to celebrate the contribution made by the UK’s 6.5 million unpaid carers, to encourage carers and veterans to come forward for the charity’s support.
Throughout Carers Week, staff and volunteers from Blind Veterans UK will be attending events around the country – including an Information Fair at The Brighton Hotel on 12 June 2014. The event, which has been organised by The Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove, will offer advice and information to carers about the support available to them in Brighton and Sussex.
Blind Veterans UK provides free lifelong services and support to ex-Service men and women with sight loss, their families and carers. The charity currently supports over 5,000 veterans, carers and family members by providing rehabilitation, training and equipment as well as emotional and practical support. The charity has three service centres in Brighton, Sheffield and Llandudno, North Wales.
Lesley Garven, manager of Blind Veterans UK’s Brighton centre, says: “Blind Veterans UK recognises the need to support carers and family members of veterans, as well as the veterans themselves.
“We ensure carers have access to vital practical and emotional support and training so that they are fully supported in their caring role. We have a specialist listening and counselling service, as well as dedicated group sessions at each of our centres which encourage carers to come together and talk about their experiences with our support staff. We have a lifelong commitment to each of our beneficiaries, including carers, spouses and family members.
“By getting involved with Carers Week, we hope to encourage those carers in Sussex who are currently caring for an ex-Service man and woman with vision impairment but are not currently aware of the help available, to seek the charity’s support.”
Blind Veterans UK’s No One Alone campaignis reaching out to the 68,000 plus blind ex-Service personnel and carers who could benefit from the charity’s services but either do not know about the charity or do not know that they are eligible for its lifelong support.
If you’d like more information about Blind Veterans UK, come and meet us at The Brighton Hotel between 1.30pm – 3.30pm on 12 June, or you can visit www.noonealone.org.uk or call 0800 389 7979.
