Unpaid carers across Lancashire are being helped to get fit and healthy. Lancashire County Council, in partnership with district councils and local leisure trusts, has produced a ‘Passport to Leisure’ card specifically for carers.
The cards are available to anyone in Lancashire who looks after or provides help to someone with an illness or a disability who couldn’t manage on a day-to-day basis without that additional support.
The aim is to give carers’ health and wellbeing a boost by offering them discounts on a wide range of leisure activities across the county.
Carers can use the card at a number of venues countywide to enjoy reduced admission charges for activities such as swimming, golf, racquet sports, gym, Zumba, exercise classes and much more.
Carers who are committed to the care of a sick or disabled person find that their opportunities for action are limited by the requirement to stay available at home, or out but at the physical pace that the person they care for can tolerate. Health studies show that the effect of caring on health and fitness is significant.
County Councillor Tony Martin, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “Carers frequently ask us about leisure opportunities for themselves as well as the people they care for.
“The ‘Passport to Leisure’ card will help carers by providing exactly the sort of high-quality information they need to get the most out of their local leisure facilities.
“The card will also help carers to take short breaks, relax, make new friends and generally recharge their batteries.”
Carers can register for a ‘Passport to Leisure’ card, free of charge, at their local leisure centre, which in our case is Salt Ayre. You will love it. You will need to bring proof of identity and your most recent Carer’s Allowance award letter. You can register on the spot before your first session. It’s most definitely worth a punt. For more information tel: 01524 847540 or visit
http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/salt-ayre-sports-centre/
For more information about help for carers, call Carers Lancashire on 03456887113 or visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/carers.
Alternatively, phone Lancashire County Council’s carers team on 0777 522 1258 or email carers.feedback@lancashire.gov.uk.