Carers help shape new online support hub for unpaid carers across Fife

A new online information and support hub for unpaid carers in Fife has been officially launched, making it easier than ever for people to access advice, information and support in one place.

Fife Carers Connect, developed by Fife Voluntary Action on behalf of the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership (FHSCP), was unveiled at the latest Fife Carers Forum. The new website has been created in direct response to feedback from unpaid carers, who said they wanted a simple, easy-to-access "one-stop shop" for information relating to their caring role.

The website brings together a wide range of information and resources, helping carers find support, understand their rights, access local services and connect with other sources of help, all from a single online hub.

Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting family members, friends and neighbours across Fife. However, many carers have told us that finding the right information can sometimes feel overwhelming, with support and advice spread across a number of different organisations and websites.

Fife Carers Connect has been designed to address this by providing one trusted place where carers can quickly find the information they need, when they need it.

Lynne Garvey, Director of the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, said:

"Unpaid carers make an extraordinary contribution to communities across Fife every day. We know that caring can be rewarding, but it can also bring challenges, and carers have told us they want easier access to information, advice and support.

"Fife Carers Connect has been developed in response to that feedback. It provides a single place where carers can find information about their rights, available support, financial help, breaks from caring and much more.

"Importantly, this is also an early example of us delivering on the commitments set out in Fife's new Carers Strategy. Just two months after the strategy was agreed, we are launching the first major action, demonstrating our commitment to listening to carers and turning that feedback into meaningful improvements.

"We hope the website will make it easier for carers to access the support they need and, importantly, help more people recognise themselves as carers and understand that support is available. This is about ensuring carers feel recognised, valued and connected."

The website forms part of a wider programme of work to improve support for unpaid carers across Fife and raise awareness of the vital role they play in communities.

Kenny Murphy, Chief Executive, Fife Voluntary Action, said:

"We were delighted to work with the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership to develop Fife Carers Connect. Throughout the development process, carers told us they wanted information that was easy to find, easy to understand and available in one place. This website has been shaped by those views and will continue to evolve as we listen to feedback from carers."

What carers said about the website:

"It’s great, I just found out information I didn’t know."

"I wish I had this available when I became a carer, I was like a fish out of water and didn’t know where to go for help and support."

"This is the best website I’ve seen in years."

“I can take this to people in my community; it will be so handy for people to access.”

For more information, visit www.fifecarersconnect.org.