Carers To Carers Programme Update

We’re very happy to share an update on the Carers To Carers scheme that was funded by the James Tudor Foundation and our 2023 Festive Appeal.

The 10 unpaid carers who have volunteered to train as Volunteer Health Workers, are half-way through their four-week training programme at our local charity partner SGCP’s centre in Kathmandu, where they are learning how to provide basic health care to other unpaid carers.

The carers are enjoying the course and are very happy to be part of the training. They are finding it challenging but interesting to learn more about disabilities that are different to their own child’s disability.

The modules of the training course include:

• Common health issues experienced by carers and the reasons why
• Basic preventative measures and physiotherapy exercises
• Breathing exercises and meditation
• Signposting to relevant health and therapy services
• Nutrition and hygiene
• Promoting movement, communication and sensory development of the child
• Exploring alternative care options to help reduce 24/7 caring

While they are in training, their children, who have a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy and autism and range in age from 3 to 16, have a full day programme of education and therapy.

Once the training is finished, they will return to their districts and continue ‘on the job’ training with the home visitors from SGCP’s outreach programme. Once fully trained, each Volunteer Health Worker will work with 25 unpaid carers within their community, supporting the health and well-being of their family through regular home visits. 

As a result of this project, 250 carers in the Kathmandu Valley will benefit from:

• Empowerment to meet their own basic health needs
• Increased self-care arising from increased knowledge of hygiene and nutrition
• Enhanced access to healthcare services
• Improved mental health due to regular empathetic support and a sense of community

Additionally, 250 children with cerebral palsy (and other neurological conditions) will experience improved health and development as a direct result of their carers having:

• Improved knowledge of neurological conditions and their impacts
• Experience in basic physiotherapy
• Understanding of how to manage common health and medical issues

This project will also mean:

• Increased awareness of the health needs of carers amongst local service providers
• The ten trained Volunteer Health Workers will benefit from improved confidence and well-being by playing a valuable role within their communities
• The ten children of the volunteers will benefit from improved physical, mental and social development due to the programme at SGCP
• 250 children with disabilities will benefit from their carers having improved health which will lead to better care provision
• The improved health of 250 families due to better nutrition and hygiene practices

We would like to say a huge thank you to The James Tudor Foundation for providing a grant to get the project started, to the CareTech Foundation for matching donations from the public and to our individual supporters – this wouldn’t be happening without you!

If you would like to help us support more unpaid carers across south Asia, then please consider giving a gift today.