News & campaigns
Reaching carers with
Neasden Temple
One in eight of us are carers but we may not recognise it or know where
to go for support. Faith or spiritual groups often have unique access
to their communities and local areas, and because of this they can be
invaluable in helping to identify and support carers. With this in mind,
we’re very excited to announce a year-long partnership with BAPS Shri
Swaminarayan Mandir, popularly known as the ‘Neasden Temple’, and
their network of Hindu temples across the UK.
We’ll be working together
to raise awareness
of caring, help carers
identify themselves as
carers, provide access to
information and advice,
as well as campaigning,
fundraising and
volunteering. We’ll be
getting involved with key
dates in Neasden Temple’s
calendar such as Diwali and
Hindu New Year.
Neasden Temple is planning
activities for Carers Week
and Carers Rights Day, as
well as using their annual
BAPS 10K Challenge
to fundraise and raise
awareness of caring. Dr
Mayank Shah, one of the
organisers of the Challenge
said, “The support provided
by carers is incredibly
important and honourable.
We are delighted to have an
opportunity to help others
who share our spirit of
dedication…”
The striking Neasden
14
Temple itself is based in
north-west London and is
the headquarters of BAPS
Swaminarayan Sanstha,
one of the largest and most
active Hindu organisations in
Europe.. In the 2011 census
it was reported that 76,091
Hindus care for a loved
one in the UK. We suspect
that this figure is actually
much higher and has grown
since then. We hope that
this partnership will help us
reach many carers from this
community that we would
not have before.
There will be a year long
focus on caring at Neasden
Temple and in their
networks, which is just the
beginning and we hope it
will leave a lasting legacy for
carers in their communities.
Are you part of a faith group
or community organisation?
Could they get involved in a
similar way? Get in touch at
[email protected]
carersuk.org