Grants of £250 available for LGBTQ+ carers to take a break
Funding is limited to 30 grants so we cannot promise that your application will be considered, on this basis applications will be considered on a first come first served basis.
If you have been awarded the Time for Carers grant within the last 3 years you will not be eligible to apply for this grant.
At Carers Leeds, we see you and we value you, and want to do everything we can to provide inclusive information, advice and support for all unpaid carers, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. We want all LGBTQ+ unpaid carers or anyone caring for someone from the LGBTQ+ community in our city, to feel welcome and safe to access our service.
Understanding the issues and experiences of LGBTQ+ unpaid carers is an important part of this. Alongside listening to carers day to day through our service, we conduct an annual survey. This year we had 679 responses, with 52 respondents identifying as LGBTQ+.
Some of the responses from LGBTQ+ unpaid carers mirror the findings of the State of Unpaid Caring in Leeds (2023) which reflects all 679 responses to our survey. This is that, whilst caring is hugely valuable and an inherently human act, providing unpaid care can have a negative impact on carers’ health and wellbeing, relationships and finances. Particularly when someone is providing intensive care, over time, without enough support.
The survey asked unpaid carers about the things they are most concerned about right now. Here there was a difference between LGBTQ+ unpaid carers and the whole survey responses. LGBTQ+ unpaid carers highlighted accessing health services, opportunities for carer breaks and accessing paid care, none of which made the top three concerns based on the whole survey responses. Carers Leeds will ensure that, through our work in these areas, we pay particular attention to the concerns of LGBTQ+ unpaid carers.
Demographic data of grants provided to unpaid carers from Carers Leeds over a 2-year period identified that only 2% of grants awarded were from LGBTQ+ communities. This is less than 4% of the adult population in Leeds who are LGBTQ+. Therefore, our rationale has allowed us to secure funding provided by The Carers Trust which allows us to provide this grant which is exclusively available for this unrepresented group.
The Time for ME! fund can provide an unpaid carer with a payment of £250 so that they can take a break from their caring role. The scheme is funded by Carers Trust and administered by Carers Leeds. For further information and to request an application form please contact admin@carersleeds.org.uk or call 0113 2468338.
