Helen Ferguson

My Organisation

Carers Northern Ireland is here to improve carers’ lives.

Carers provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner. Carers give so much to society yet as a consequence of caring, they experience ill health, poverty and discrimination.

Carers Northern Ireland, part of Carers UK, is an organisation of carers fighting to end this injustice. We will not stop until people recognise the true value of carers’ contribution to society and carers get the practical, financial and emotional support they need.
• We fight for equality for carers. We want carers to have the same right as everyone else to an ordinary life – a fair level of income, access to support to protect their health and well being and access to the world of work, leisure and education
• We seek to empower carers. We want carers to be actively involved in the design, development and delivery of services. We want carers to be recognised and involved as key partners in the provision of health and social care services.

Carers Northern Ireland achieves this by
• campaigning for the changes that make a real difference for carers
• providing information and advice to carers about their rights and how to get support
• mobilising carers and supporters to influence decision-makers
• gathering hard evidence about what needs to change
• transforming the understanding of caring so that carers are valued and not discriminated against