Introducing Amina, a City & Hackney Community Health Champion who works with City & Hackney Carers Centre. City and Hackney Carers Centre, located on Queensbridge Road, supports the unmet practical, emotional and social needs of carers.
Tell us about your organisation, your role within it and the services you provide to the City and Hackney community?
I have been working for the City & Hackney Carers Centre for over 27 years. I am employed as the Office & Finance Manager; however being the voluntary sector we also wear several hats!
City & Hackney Carers Centre supports unpaid/informal carers. We have just recently (as of 1st April 2025) taken over the Carers Support Service that is commissioned by the London Borough of Hackney. This service includes initial triage, development of the Hackney Carers Card, setting up a carers advisory group, support groups and activities.
Other services that the carers centre provide include information and advice (such as benefits checks, helping people apply for benefits, funding and general advice and info), counselling and listening ear service, wellbeing activities, parent carer forum, young adult carers social group.
How do you define an “unpaid/informal carer”? What might be an example of someone who may want to take advantage of your services but think they can’t?
We define an unpaid/informal carer as someone who provides support to a family member, relative or friend who is ill, has a disability, substance misuse or mental health issues.
Why is it important for unpaid/informal carers to seek support?
It’s important for unpaid/informal carers to know that support services like the City & Hackney Carers Centre are there to support them. Sadly, there are a number of cases where the role of the informal carer goes unrecognised. There is a lot of pressure on carers, many of whom have to give up work to care for their loved one. Being a carer can be very isolating and stressful. It takes a strain on the individual’s mental and physical wellbeing.
Some people also get confused with the term “unpaid” carer as they believe that if they are in receipt of carer’s allowance, they are not an unpaid carer. Even if someone receives carer’s allowance, they are still classified as an unpaid carer. To break down that perception, we now try to use the word “informal” carer. It’s important for informal carers to get in touch with our services so that they can find out what we offer and how we can support them and also for them to know that they are not alone.
What made you join the Community Health Champions programme and how have you used the programme with your service users?
My manager was keen for a staff member to be involved in the Community Health Champions programme to increase our knowledge on health topics, which can then be fed back to our service users. I happened to be put forward and I am so very glad to be a Community Health Champion as I myself am learning so much and it’s a great network to be part of.
I have included health information literature that I have received from the CHC programme in our e-news. Through the programme I have been linked up with other professionals, such as the stop-smoking service, diabetes specialists and junior doctors, who attended our carers’ wellbeing days and offered blood pressure checks and information sessions.
How can other Champions help encourage people to take advantage of your services and make more people aware of this resource within City & Hackney?
Other Champions can certainly help by referring or signposting any informal carer they come across to our service. I invite people to download our flyer. In order for a carer to access our services they do need to be registered with us. The easiest way to register is to visit our website and complete our register with us form. For those that are not comfortable completing online forms or need support, then they can call 020 8533 0951 (our phone lines are open Monday – Friday from 10am – 4pm) and we can book them an appointment to complete the form over the phone or in person.
Website: City & Hackney Carers Centre
Phone: 020 8533 0951
Email: [email protected]