Bluebird Care North Hampshire and West Berkshire salute unsung local carers

A home care provider surprised 40 of its customers’ loved ones with flowers, plants and wine to recognise the care they deliver as part of Carers Week.

Carers week, which ran from June seven to 12, is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face, and recognise the contribution paid and unpaid carers make to families and communities throughout the UK.

It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

This year’s theme focuses on making caring visible, valued, and supported.

For over four years, Bluebird Care North Hampshire and West Berkshire has celebrated Carers Week, and this year the team wanted to celebrate the wonderful, and often unrecognised, contribution family members and friends make by gifting them flowers, plants, and wine.

Alongside the care provider, these individuals provide care to their loved ones and display incredible dedication and commitment.

The gesture was a huge success, with all recipients delighted with the gifts they received.

Speaking about her gift, a mother of one customer said: “I just wanted to thank you and your team for the lovely lilies that were waiting for me when I got in from work on Monday.

“What a lovely gesture, so thoughtful. Having carers for our son has made such a big difference to us all, so a big thank you from us for all that you and your team do.”

Another customer’s daughter added: “Thank you for my beautiful flowers. They look magnificent and I was most surprised to receive them. I think your care assistants do a wonderful job and the office staff are always patient and helpful.”

Speaking about their Carers Week celebrations, Sammie Carr, care manager at Bluebird Care North Hampshire & West Berkshire, said: “We are committed to supporting Carers Week – it is a valuable forum for raising awareness of the difficulties that unpaid carers face.

“We salute them for making such a valuable contribution to their families.

“Although we visit lots of our customers on a daily basis, it’s important to recognise their main carer.

“This may be a husband, wife, daughter or son and sometimes extended family.

“If we can bring a smile to their face and say thank you for the incredible job they do, a contribution that often goes unrecognised, it’s the least we can do.”