Why is Fiona Supporting Carers?
“Hi, I am Fiona, a hairdresser working in Bournemouth. I joined the Carer Friendly ID Carers Card project to contribute in my small way to treating Carers with a discount and some quality time to relax and enjoy having their hair done.

My husband is a paid care worker, and I know how hard he works. I can only imagine how tough it can be for some people who do it daily for a loved one. On the other side of the coin, I had cancer as a young woman in my twenties. I needed all the support I could get and will appreciate those who cared for me for the rest of my life.”

Contact Details
Address: 696 Christchurch Road, Boscombe BH7 6BY (within Sandra’s Salon)
Call: 07792 714643
Email: bodhiroots.fiona@gmail.com

What Other Offers Are There?
There are other discounts available in the Dorset area so that you can have your hair and nails done, keep fit, have a massage and other self-care offers. You can also save money on days out, eating out, shopping, home improvements hobbies and activities, plus lots more.

Where Can I See These Offers?
Click here and then type in the area where you live, search in a designated mile radius and then select the discount category, for example, hair and beauty but also search under self-care, or wellbeing and complementary therapy. Further information about the discounts and offers available to Carers in Dorset is available here.

You may see our Carer Friendly Stickers in shop windows or posters, so that is another way of knowing if somewhere provides some kind of support or discount to Carers.

How can I get these discounts?
To access these discounts, you will need to show your Carer Friendly ID Card which has been funded by Dorset Council and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council. If you have an old Dorset Carers Card or CRISP Carers Card, these are still valid, as long as they have not passed their expiry date. If they have expired, you will receive information on how to request your new Carer Friendly ID Card.

If you provide unpaid care to someone and you live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, register with CRISP here or call 01202 128787. If you are caring for someone living in Dorset Council area, register with Carer Support Dorset here or call 0800 368 8349. The relevant Carers support service will then contact you and provide you with details of how to access your Carer Friendly ID Card.

Can I recommend a Business or Service?
Yes, you can. We are really keen to expand our offers and discounts to Carers in Dorset and would love to get more businesses on board. If you regularly go somewhere or use a particular product or service and you would like to save some money, either tell that business about our Carer Friendly ID Card or email Rachel.Close@forwardcarers.org.uk and she will contact them on your behalf. Businesses can find out about the advantages of supporting Carers, such as free advertising here and submit their offer here.

Forward Carers has 8 years’ experience of using different approaches to engage and co-design services with Carers, that reflect the diversity of Birmingham Carers.   

Carers Voice is an initiative created by Forward Carers to provide a platform for Carers across the UK to share their voice locally and nationally and have it heard by health professionals, social care and other services. Many Carers often feel unheard and under pressure, therefore we believe that Carers should have more say and equal input around the services that affect them.   

Could I be a part of Carers Voice?  

• Do you have lived experience of caring for somebody with a diagnosis including but not limited to; Dementia, Autism ADHD, Mental Health, Parent-Carers and Young Adults? 
• Are you a Carer of working age? 
• Do you have personal lived experience of caring? 
• Do you recognise the value of Carers being involved in services?  
• Do you want to help shape services and support available to Carers? 
• Do you want to be a part of positive change for Carers? 

If you answered yes to one of the above, then we would love to have you on board! 

Visit the Carers Voice webpage to find out more.

If you are a professional or from an organisation and would like to hear from Carers, please click here.

Peter and Julie England have worked tirelessly across Dorset for over 10 years on behalf of unpaid Carers. They have delivered the Carers Card in Dorset and achieved the best value for unpaid Carers so that they are acknowledged and valued by their community.

The time has come when Peter and Julie have decided that their priorities must change, they need more time to care for family members as well as themselves. The couple said, “Although we will miss you, we feel confident that you will be in safe hands with the new card provider, Forward Carers.”

Forward Carers is an award-winning not-for-profit, community interest company that has supported Carers to live fulfilling lives since 2014. Forward Carers’ mission is to create Carer Friendly Communities where everyone can play a part in improving Carer wellbeing.  

Eliza Atyeo, Carers Commissioning Officer for BCP Council said.

“On behalf of Dorset Council and BCP Council, we would like to extend our thanks to Julie and Peter England at Worldwide Procurement Services UK Ltd (WWPS), who successfully managed the Dorset Carers Card. Julie, Peter, and their team grew an extensive directory of discounts and concessions across the county that encourage and enable Carers to lead fulfilling lives, take a break and enjoy time away from the caring role.”

What will the change mean for Carers?
In partnership with Dorset Council and BCP Council; Carers in Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will still be able to access the existing discounts and offers through Forward Carers. Carers in Dorset can continue to use their existing Carers Card until the date on it has expired. As your card expiry date is approaching, please contact your local carer support service to let them know, they will then send you a link to apply for the Carer Friendly ID Card.

Any Carers that are registered with Dorset Council (Carer Support Dorset) or BCP Council (CRISP Carers Support Services) in 2023 will receive a new Carer Friendly ID Card. All cardholders will have access to a new dedicated website (www.dorsetcarerscard.org.uk) hosting a range of discounts and offers available across the county. Peter and Julie’s Facebook page (@mycarerscard) and Twitter page (@MyCarersCard) will also transfer across and be managed by Forward Carers.
Who to contact?
Forward Carers has recruited a new Project Manager, Rachel Close who lives in Dorset. Rachel will lead on the implementation of the Carer Friendly ID Card for Carers in Dorset and build relationships with local businesses and organisations to create meaningful offers and discounts to Carer Cardholders.  Rachel will work in partnership with the local authorities, community Carer services and groups to ensure Carers can access the scheme.

Rachel works part time and can be reached via email Rachel.close@forwardcarers.org.uk or by calling 07572790211. On Rachel’s non-working days, contact carerfriendly@forwardcarers.org.uk.

What will the change mean for businesses?
To ensure the continuity of the service, current discounts offered through the Dorset Carers Card will be transferred over to Forward Carers and added to the directory of offers on the new website (www.dorsetcarerscard.org.uk). Businesses are advised to check that their details are correct and notify Forward Carers of any changes or updates. Rachel will be in contact with registered businesses to introduce herself and distribute your new Carer Friendly business window sticker. Thank you to Peter and Julie for leaving us with a great legacy to build on and we wish you all the very best for the future.

Forward Carers is an award-winning not-for-profit, Community Interest Company and we are on a mission to create Carer Friendly Communities nationally, including the regions of Dorset. We want workplaces, shops, services, and communities to play their part in being more understanding of unpaid Carers, and how they can make their lives a little bit easier. Our aim is to increase the community’s consideration for Carers so that they are valued and supported in all areas of their life and work.

We are commissioned by Dorset Council and Bournemouth Christchurch Poole Council to deliver the official Carer ID Card and discount scheme to Carers registered with their local Carer Information Service. Carers often give up work or reduce their working hours to provide support to a family member or close friend which inevitably reduces their income. When businesses offer a discount or provide some other benefit or perk to Carers, it can make a real difference. It can make meeting a friend for coffee more affordable and provides the Carer with a little bit of ‘me time’ and a break from the demands of caring.

Introducing Rachel Close
Rachel Close has been appointed by Forward Carers as Project Manager to lead on the implementation of the Carer Friendly ID Card for Carers in Dorset. Rachel will continue the legacy of My Carers Card run by Julie and Peter England to support local businesses who already provide a deal or reward for Carers.

Rachel will also be striving to identify and build new relationships with local businesses and organisations to create meaningful offers, opportunities and discounts for Carers who present their Carer Friendly ID Card. Forward Carers and Rachel will work in partnership with the local authorities, regional businesses, community Carer services and groups, in the hope that we can create a Carer Friendly Dorset.

Rachel can relate to both Carers and to local businesses. Rachel supports her adult stepson who has learning difficulties and Autism and she also runs a business in Bournemouth with her husband.

Rachel said, “We have been business owners for over a decade, so we understand the responsibilities this brings, and I can relate to other business owners as I am no stranger to the challenges, lifestyle and benefits managing a business can bring.”

She added, “We are looking to expand our provision to Carers but currently our private school of classical art offers Carers with flexibility. If Carers can’t attend class due to caring responsibilities or their own health needs, we provide an alternative replacement class or discount their next term for classes they were absent. We also offer flexible payment plans that work with their financial arrangements.” 

“Most of my professional life has been spent working with Carers in schools, within local authority family support and voluntary sector/community groups. Carers views, realities and wellbeing has always been in the heart of my work. I’m looking forward to bringing all my experience to this role and helping to shape Dorset into being Carer Friendly.”

Rachel works part time (Monday and Thursday 9am – 4pm and Tuesday and Wednesday 9am – 12 noon) and can be reached via email Rachel.close@forwardcarers.org.uk or by calling 07572790211.

During Rachel’s non-working times, contact carerfriendly@forwardcarers.org.uk. Rachel would love to hear from businesses in Dorset who would like to offer their support to unpaid Carers and from Carers themselves who would like to suggest a business they would like Rachel to approach on their behalf.

Forward Carers is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a contract with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) and Dorset Council to deliver the Carer Friendly photo ID card to unpaid Carers living in Dorset for the next five years.

Newly registered unpaid adult Carers with BCP Council and Dorset Council Carer support, will receive a free photo ID card. The Carer Friendly Carers Card verifes their caring role, displays their own emergency contact details and provides access to over 400 national and local discounts. Carers living across the Dorset conurbations can continue to use their existing card until it expires, after which, a replacement Forward Carers Carer Friendly ID Card will be issued.

As part of this partnership, Carers in Dorset will be able to access a new dedicated website (scheduled to go live in January 2023) where Carers can search discounts and offers available in particular geographical areas of the county.

Simon Fenton, CEO of Forward Carers said:
“We are delighted to roll out the Carer Friendly Carer ID Card to Carers in Dorset. Carers make a significant difference to society. Our Carers Card tangibly recognises their caring status and acknowledges their contribution by offering savings. It will make accessing services to improve Carers’ physical and emotional wellbeing more affordable too.”

Carers outside of Dorset who hold a Carer Friendly photo ID card will also reap the benefits from this new contract. They too will be able to access additional online benefits and local offers should they visit the West Country. More information regarding this will be issued in the New Year.

Local authorities in Dorset are aspiring to make their county Carer Friendly and encouraging more local businesses and services to get on board. This aligns with Forward Carers mission to create Carer Friendly Communities, where everyone can play a part in improving Carer wellbeing.

Council’s can contact carerfriendly@forwardcarers.org.uk to start a conversation about offering a similar scheme to unpaid Carers in their vicinity. Likewise, employers can assist their staff who juggle work and caring responsibilities at home by offering a range of support. Find out more about our Carer Friendly Communities Workplace programme here.