Sleep Poverty Project for carers launched in Barnsley

Making Space’s Barnsley Carers service was awarded £33,930 from Barnsley Council’s allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Funds (UKSPF) which is overseen by Department for Levelling Up.

Julia Goddard, Team Leader at Barnsley Carers, who was instrumental in securing the cash said: ‘Many carers struggle to get enough sleep. Physical factors such as the noises, movements and needs of the people they are looking after added to emotional factors such as the ‘need’ to stay up for an extra hour or two just to get some time to themselves. Carers are having significantly less sleep than other people and this project will just help to make their lives much easier’.

In a survey by Carers UK, it was revealed that the average nightly amount of sleep by carers was 4 hours and 26 minutes. Poor sleep on a regular basis can put people at risk of more serious medical conditions and can affect concentration and decision-making, making their role as carer harder. Lack of sleep can also lead to low mood and increases the risk of having accidents in the home, at work or on the road.

Barnsley Carers provides emotional support and practical advice to hundreds of unpaid carers in the Barnsley area and the group has previously distributed over £28,000 from the Barnsley Housing Support Grant to help unpaid carers with essential household items, energy bills and food.