Carers Trust and The Rank Group Plc (“Rank”) renew funding partnership - and consolidate support for UK’s isolated unpaid carers
Cares Trust and Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos, (part of Rank,) are delighted to announce the extension of their relationship into 2023. This will take the hugely successful funding partnership into its ninth year.
The partnership’s impact has been fantastic, with over £3 million raised. It has supported more than 13,000 unpaid carers since its launch in 2014.
The money raised helps carers in several significant ways:
Carers Trust spends the money to provide grants for carers enabling them buy otherwise unaffordable household items like fridges, washing machines and laptops. These are essential purchases which help carers continue often round the clock care.
It also pays for desperately needed breaks from their caring role, allowing them to relax away from the household chores with the cared for person, or to get away solo for some much-needed respite.
Callum, 19, has cared for his sister, who lives with a congenital hereditary condition since he was five. He is also studying to be a doctor and has received grant funding for counselling sessions, much needed to counter the panic attacks which started when he and his mum had little support during the pandemic.
Rank welcomes carers to their casinos and bingo venues for some well-deserved respite over afternoon tea.
During Carers Week 2022 – Mecca and Grosvenor invited carers in for some well-deserved respite. (Quotes from carers below)
“Thank you so much to Grosvenor Casino in Bolton for our lovely carers afternoon tea. It was a lovely relaxing couple of hours, and we were made to feel extremely welcome. Very enjoyable” – Lynda
Fantastic fundraising
The continued, often imaginative fundraising by customers and colleagues at Rank is vital this year as the current cost-of-living-crisis impacts unpaid carers. (1)
Last year they marked Mecca Bingo 60th Anniversary by taking on a challenge for fundraising £60k in 60 days during August and September.
Also last year, Rank runners entered the Big Half and London Marathon raising over £10k in September and October.
This year the Rank fundraisers include three Big Half runners, four London Marathon runners and a team of 15 cyclists taking on London to Brighton in September and October.
This May saw the return of the City Poker event, which had an amazing events and prize draw, raising over nearly £5k on the night.
A Rank fundraiser said: “Throughout our lives, we come across charities that we feel are a worthy cause, so we dig deep and donate to help them. However, Carers Trust spoke to me on a more personal level. I felt there was more I could do to help this great cause in both gaining donations and increasing their exposure to the public.
“During their partnership with Rank, I have put myself forward for several events including a 100-mile cycle ride and two London Marathons (2018 and 2021).
“I was recently asked if I would consider running for Carers Trust in this year's London Marathon as well and, without taking even a second to think about it, I’ve agreed to run in this great event again.”
Kirsty McHugh, CEO at Carers Trust, said:
‘All of us at Carers Trust are so enormously grateful for the support of Rank and its employees. The dedication, innovation and sheer enthusiasm of Rank’s staff has been tremendous. With the cost-of-living crisis really biting, an even greater number of unpaid carers are struggling to make ends meet. The grants we are able to make to carers for household items and much needed short breaks might, individually, seem small things, but for the people we support they can be life changing. Thank you SO much for everything you do.’
Ends
Notes to Editor:
For further information, and to arrange interviews with Carers Trust spokespeople, please contact the press team:
Matt Whitticase on mwhitticase@carers.org and 07824 539481.
Kate Cleaver kcleaver@carers.org and 07712 427808
About Carers Trust
Carers Trust works to transform the lives of unpaid carers across the UK. We partner with our network of local carer organisations across the UK to provide funding and support, deliver innovative and evidence-based programmes and raise awareness & influence policy.
Our vision is that unpaid carers are heard and valued, with access to support, advice, and resources to enable them to live fulfilled lives.