A new monthly carer café is being introduced in the city centre thanks to a partnership between the Carers’ Centre and historic Bath Abbey.
Revd Chantal Mason with Jeremy Key-Pugh at Bath Abbey’s Learning Centre | Photo courtesy of The Carers’ Centre
Unpaid carers provide a vital role, whether that is caring for someone with physical or mental ill health, disability or care needs due to age.
For many carers, the help and support they provide can take a toll on their wellbeing.
The new carer café at Bath Abbey will provide a welcoming and informal environment for carers to meet, chat and connect with others in similar positions and understand the pressures many are facing.
CEO of The Carers’ Centre, Jacqui Orchard said: “We’re so pleased to be working with Bath Abbey to provide a carer café not just in the centre of Bath, but also at one of the city’s most historic and beautiful buildings.
“At The Carers’ Centre, we hear first-hand the impact of the growing economic and social pressures on carers’ day-to-day lives.
“Carers have also told us how much they value the cafés and the interaction with others who understand intrinsically just how tough their role can be.”
Revd Chantal Mason, Bath Abbey Pastor said: “Hosting a carer café in partnership with The Carers’ Centre is a privilege for us.
“To be able to offer social and emotional assistance to carers and those they are caring for helps fulfil the aspiration that our new facilities will be available to the city as places of support and care.”
Jeremy Key-Pugh is a volunteer at Bath Abbey and will be part of the team running the new café at the Learning Centre.
He added: “The benefits that I as a carer, and my wife as the cared-for have received from The Carers’ Centre’s cafés are simply priceless.
“Dementia does not only affect the person who has it – whoever is caring for them is also living with dementia.
“Their caring role was probably thrust upon them, and they may have little or no knowledge or experience to help them.
“That was the situation I found myself in, and I can honestly say that carer cafés not only saved my mental health, but enabled me to offer better, wiser support to my wife.”
The first carer café at Bath Abbey will take place on Wednesday 26th June, 10:30am – 12:30pm and will continue to take place on the fourth Wednesday of every month.
Carers are free to go along alone, or with the person they care for.
The cafés are free to attend, though attendees are being asked to register their interest via The Carers’ Centre website or by calling 0800 0388 885.
