Carers UK have launched their popular ‘Looking after someone’ guide in Gujarati. It is a product of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’s ongoing partnership with Carers UK which began during the
Annual Challenge in April 2018 where more than 3,000 enthusiastic participants from across the UK joined together to raise funds for various good causes.
Carers UK is the country’s only national membership charity for carers. It aims to make life better for the 6.5 million people in the UK who are supporting a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill.
‘Looking after someone’ is a tool for anyone caring for family or friends. It outlines the rights of carers and provides an overview of the practical and financial support available to them. Kashmira Popatia, a wheelchair- and oxygen-bound volunteer at BAPS who is herself supported by a full-time carer had worked closely with Carers UK to create the Gujarati guide.
The publication will enable Gujarati carers to draw upon support, ensuring that they can in turn provide the best level of care to those they are supporting in their respective communities.
Hannah Hockin, Corporate and Events Fundraiser at Carers UK, presented the guide to Mrs Popatia during the Hindu New Year festivities at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, on Thursday 8 November 2018.
The unveiling of this new guide follows the
cheque presentation made to Carers UK in September for the funds raised during the Annual Challenge. Professor David Grayson CBE, Chair of Carers UK, also thanked BAPS for its support in a letter that was sent on 29 September 2018. He wrote: “We [Carers UK] are looking forward to continuing our partnership together, and have much to look forward to – not least the ‘Looking after someone guide’ in Gujarati…. We believe that this resource will also help us to leave a lasting legacy of our partnership. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work with you in support of our vision of a society that respects, values and supports our carers.”
Mrs Popatia added, “It is very encouraging to see the tangible outputs from the annual charity Challenge. This booklet has made the life of carers in the Gujarati community much better and I hope that it will improve the lives of those in the community who are struggling to find access to appropriate resources.”