Today I joined Sheffield Carers Centre in launching a month-long initiative to find hidden carers in Gleadless Valley and help them to access support.

There are over 50,000 carers in Sheffield, many without access to carer support services that the Carers’ Centre offer.

The campaign is supported by a wide variety of groups, including Heeley City Farm, Sheffield Young Carers, the Gleadless Valley Foodbank, several local churches and local councillors.

It coincides with a new push I’m running in conjunction with Sheffield Young Carers, to support carers under 25, of whom Sheffield has several thousand. We’re calling on South Yorkshire transport bosses to give young carers a chance at a social life, and to remove worries about transport fares, by providing free or very cheap travel within Sheffield. Make sure to show your support and sign here.

Sheffield is home to thousands of unpaid carers, and the Carers Centre does fantastic work in helping to support them. But there are so many who aren’t aware of the work the Carers Centre does, or how it can help them.

We’re trying to make life easier for people who do so much for our city, and over the next month we’re hoping to engage with people who might not have considered the ways they can be supported themselves, as well as fighting for free travel for young carers.

As part of the outreach month, a number of events will take place across Gleadless Valley, including coffee mornings, a professionals and volunteers training event, and a Carers Workshop. If you’d like to attend, details are as follows:

• Coffee Mornings: Tuesday, February 20th, 10-12 at Heeley Parish Church, Herdings Community and Heritage Centre, and Gleadless Valley Methodist Church
• Professionals and Volunteers Training Event: Tuesday, February 27th, 10-12 at Holy Cross Church
• Carers Workshop: Thursday, March 15th, 10-12 at Newfield Green Library