Kehinde James started volunteering for Carers First in 2019. She runs a support group called Self-Care for Carers (SCFC), where carers can openly discuss the demands and challenges which come with their role.
Kehinde said: “The most important part of volunteering for Carers First are the carers I get to meet and work with each month. These incredible men and women have said yes to the responsibility of caring for loved ones – spouses, children, siblings or friends at home alongside caring for themselves and sometimes other family members. They are unsung heroes."
She added: "Our monthly meetings provide a safe space for group members to express honestly what is actually happening in their lives: the demands, challenges, expectations, insecurities and ill-health, without being judged or criticised.
"Often carers are not only caring for someone through illness, but some are also in ill-health themselves. By sharing experiences, group members realise they are not alone and together we support each other.
"What is less often acknowledged by family carers is the importance of the service they provide to loved ones and how much the work they do benefits not just the person being cared for, but themselves also."
She added: "SCFC supports carers to value themselves and see that they matter equal to the person they care for."
Each group member contributes to the group as equals, learning from the experiences and expertise of others. On occasion, the host may come with a themed focus for the week's discussion, but often the theme arises naturally from the conversations.
Kehinde said: "There is always someone with something specific to share about their caring responsibility and from their sharing we all learn and also offer support. This fluidity means there is no formal script or plan, much flows from the group and this is its beauty."
SCFC supports carers to rebuild the quality of the relationship they have with themselves, recognising the importance of their own wellbeing through listening to their own bodies and minds. The group also offers advice on practical methods of self-care, such as sleep patterns, diet, and exercise.
Kehinde works as a paid live-in carer and balances her work and volunteering by generously hosting meetings in her time off.
She says that her experience in volunteering has shown her how caring “can be enriching, not draining or overwhelming”.
She added: “Carers First supported me from day one as volunteer host of SCFC. They are simply there for us. They offer training opportunities and support us to host meetings remotely.
"Carers First makes us feel cared for and part of the organisation. There’s never a feeling of us and them, I have always felt welcomed, valued and included."
Kehinde said that she would recommend volunteering for Carers First because "becoming a volunteer is an opportunity to get to know and learn from the actual lives and amazing resourcefulness of family carers."
To find out more about volunteering for Carers First, visit carersfirst.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering.
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