Caring about rights | BIHR Community Space

PRESS RELEASE

30 October 2012

Today BIHR and n:compass Advocacy Services launch an essential new Pocket Guide to help families and friends caring for loved ones know and secure their rights.

This Pocket Guide shines a light on the hidden world of unpaid carers, those family members, friends and neighbours who work tirelessly to care for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Carers in the North West of England flagged the need for a Pocket Guide, knowing that human rights are important to their caring role, but finding little accessible information out there.

Produced as part of BIHR’s Human Rights in the Community Project, the Pocket Book explains how human rights, particularly those in the Human Rights Act 1998, are relevant to carers and those they care for, helping to protect from abuse and neglect and to secure access to services.

Stephen Bowen, Director of the British Institute of Human Rights said:

‘Recent examples of the cruelty experienced by people in residential homes remind us why it is so important both they and their families and friends know about human rights and are able to challenge the failures in the system. Sadly, unpaid carers are too often let down by the services which should be there to protect them and those they care for. With this Pocket Guide, families and their loved ones will have the information they need to get a fair deal, ensuring their basic dignity is respected.”

Nick Gradwell, carer and expert by experience said:

'In the week that the issues at Winterborne View re-emerge, it is clear how human rights are vital for carers and their loved ones. The BIHR guidance helps to equip carers with the knowledge to better secure their rights as well as those of the persons they care for. It’s all about bringing rights home.'

For more information about the launch and your copy of the Pocket Guide click here

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. For media enquiries please contact Sanchita Hosali on 0207 882 5850 / 07811 457343 shosali@bihr.org.uk

2. BIHR is a national independent human rights charity committed to bringing rights to life in the UK. Since the introduction of the Human Rights Act, we have specialised in taking human rights ‘beyond the courtroom’, making human rights knowledge accessible to a wide range of audiences and translating the ideas and laws into practical tools for people and organisations to use in everyday life. Further information about BIHR visit www.bihr.org.uk

3. N-compass is a charity providing advocacy services across the North West of England for carers to help them access better services for themselves and the person they care for. For further information please visit www.ncompassnorthwest.co.uk

4. Your Human Rights: A Pocket Guide for Carers was the idea of a group of carers from the North West, who felt that there was a lack of understanding about how the Human Rights Act protects them and those they care for. The guide was developed in partnership with n-compass and the British Institute of Human Rights as part of the ‘Human Rights in the Community’ project. You can access a copy of the guide here: www.bihr.org.uk/projects/caring-about-rights-launch-of-the-pocket-guide

5. BIHR’s Human Rights in the Community Project is an exciting three year initiative (2010 – 2013) working with community groups to empower individuals and communities with human rights know-how and support them with a range of practical tools and resources. This projected is funded through the grants programme of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

6. The Pocket Guide launch event takes place on 30 October at 6pm at the Avenham Park Paviollion, Preston. The reception will hear from Stephen Bowen, Director of BIHR, Catherine Hewitt, Advocacy Operations Manager at n-compass and Nick Gradwell, Carer and Expert by Experience. The reception follows a full day event in Preston, hosted by BIHR, as part of the Human Rights Tour 2012, 16 free-to-attend community capacity building days being held across the UK. For more information about the Tour click here and for our #16cities Blog please click here.