1. Carer Ambassadors Project Supporting Carers in Primary Care National Learning Event, Manchester, 16 April 2013

2. Carers UK We want society to respect, value and support carers. Established in 1965 Information and advice on caring Practical and emotional support Campaigning to make life better for carers Influencing at a national and local level 17,000 members 9,000 Facebook & 9000 Twitter followers

3. Volunteer Carer Ambassadors have been recruited by Carers UK to collaborate with all local stakeholders to complement and support local strategies and action plans aimed at improving the identification and support of carers by GP practices. The Role of Carer Ambassadors

4. What do Care Ambassadors have to offer? Extensive & diverse caring experience Service user experience & understanding of local environment Diverse work experience Local volunteering experience Communications & influencing skills Passion for improving services for other carers Persistence, patience, ‘never give up’ attitude

5. Examples of Carer Ambassadors’ achievements Instigated Supporting Carers in Primary Care Reference Group Daphne Sanderson & Lucia Dedear arranged meeting of all key stakeholders in Gloucestershire (including a GP) which resulted in agreement to organise a protected learning time session for GPs on carers

6. Bridget Leech provided carer awareness training to medical students with her local GP Champion in Nottinghamshire Volunteer Carers Lead in Dorset GP practice: Pat Vinycomb has become a volunteer Carers Lead at her local surgery and has identified over 100 new carers (around 8 per week) Examples of Carer Ambassadors’ achievements

7. Richard Cross, Vice-Chair of Cambridgeshire Carers’ Partnership Board, advised Essex County Council on the setting up of a similar group Supported by Reading Council, Lynn Launchbury has edited a new magazine for carers, We Care Louise Reecejones played a leading role in campaigning to have a consultation on the council’s plans to close a day care centre on the Wirral.

8. Plans for coming months Adapting to new health and social care structures Focused recruitment of new Carer Ambassadors New resources Continued collaboration with Carers Trust, RCGP, RCN and QNI Caring for Carers Awards

9. Michael Shann Carer Ambassadors Project Manager michael.shann@carersuk.org