This year’s Carers Week theme is to help us all come together and make caring visible.

This year, unpaid carers have the additional worry of how to keep themselves and the person they care for safe during the coronavirus outbreak, so it is important they have the information, guidance and support they need.

There are 6.5 million people in the UK who are caring for a family member or friend with an illness, disability, addiction or mental health problem, yet many of these unpaid carers feel isolated and that their caring role is hidden.

1 in 7 of these carers will also be working as well as caring.

Caring can be rewarding but also challenging. Many unpaid carers are currently dealing with more challenges than ever before. It is important that carers know how to look after their own health and wellbeing, and that we all recognise the contribution that unpaid carers make.

Caring impacts on all aspects of life, from relationships and health to finances and work, and caring without the right information and support can be tough and should not be underestimated.

West Cumbria Carers runs a Workplace Carers Champion Scheme which enlists volunteers to become the ‘voice’ of carers in their workplaces and is continuing to establish and develop a network of Carers Champions and training sessions at Sellafield Ltd.

Suzanne Pender is the chair of the Family Support Network at Sellafield and the Carers Sub-group are a part of this network.

Suzanne said

This is a challenging time for everyone, but particularly people with caring responsibilities, many of whom are not visible in our community.

The Sellafield Carers Group can provide peer support and sign-posting, helping employees to manage both their home and work commitments more effectively.

Stephen Scott is leading the Carers Sub-group and said:

A workplace Carers Champion is someone who, through training, is aware of the stresses and strains a working carer may be facing and how West Cumbria Carers can support them. It is possible that a carer may not actually identify as such in the workplace, but through approaching and chatting with a Carers Champion feels comfortable enough to talk about their caring responsibilities with them.

I am proud to be leading the Carers Sub-group who help signpost the Sellafield Ltd workforce to possible available help.

Angela Longrigg, Volunteer and Projects Manager and Andrea Carlton, Adult Support Manager who work together in running the Workplace Carers Champion Scheme at West Cumbria Carers said:

Sometimes even just a few words from someone who understands your situation can be a lifeline for carers.

Caring can be lonely and isolating, so speaking to someone who has had a similar experience can make a big difference. Workplace Carers Champions can make that difference.

As part of the response, it has been announced that DCMS will launch a call for evidence into the impact of loot boxes on in-game spending and gambling-like behaviour later this year.

Loot boxes are items within video games that can be purchased or earned where the player does not know what they will get until after the transaction is completed. These can include power-ups and cosmetic upgrades, known as skins.

The video games sector is a key part of the UK’s world-leading creative industries, contributing £2.6 billion in 2018 and growing more than 16 times faster than the wider UK economy since 2010.

However, the DCMS Select Committee’s report on Immersive and Addictive Technologies highlighted important issues facing some users in this fast-changing space.

The response published by the department today sets out the steps the government is taking to address these concerns and protect audiences across the UK.

Minister for Digital and Culture, Caroline Dinenage, said:

During the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen more people than ever before turn to video games and immersive technology to keep them entertained and to stay in touch with friends and family.

These innovations can present challenges though as well as opportunities, which is why we are taking the necessary steps to protect users and promote the safe enjoyment of this dynamic industry.

The government has committed to tackling issues around loot boxes in response to serious concerns about this model for in-game purchasing. A call for evidence on loot boxes will examine links to gambling-like behaviour and excessive spending in games. The findings will provide a solid foundation for future steps and will be considered alongside a review of the Gambling Act.

In addition to the call for evidence, the government will contribute to further research in this area. DCMS will set a framework for a programme of research into the impact of video games on behaviour, informed by workshops with academia and industry.

The increased time at home in recent weeks has highlighted the increasing popularity of esports in the UK through events linking gaming to traditional sports like the Formula One virtual Grand Prix series and the ePremier League Invitational. Today’s response also includes plans to develop on the potential of this burgeoning industry whilst ensuring the safety of competitors and audiences is paramount. DCMS will host a ministerial roundtable with a wide range of stakeholders to explore the future of esports in Britain.

The full response to the Select Committee report can be read here. Further details on the measures announced, including the call for evidence, will be released in due course.

Over the next week, HMS Kent and minehunter HMS Ramsey will sail alongside 26 other vessels and 29 aircraft as 3,000 personnel from 17 NATO nations and two NATO partner nations strengthen their combined maritime capabilities and demonstrate their collective resolve to safeguard security in the Baltic Sea Region.

HMS Ramsey will join the exercise as part of her five-week deployment with the NATO Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1. The NATO force is dedicated to eliminating the threat of historic mines in waters of northern Europe, practising dealing with present-day mines and promoting the alliance and freedom of the seas.

BALTOPS will see Allies train together on a variety of maritime exercises including air defence, anti-submarine warfare and mine-hunting.

Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey said:

HMS Kent represents a Navy that has continued to train and operate throughout the Coronavirus pandemic so that, alongside our allies, we’re ready for whatever comes next.

The UK is committed to the independence of the Baltic Sea Region and this exercise along with a range of other UK military activity helps to deters threats and defends our interests in the region. With HMS Kent exercising on BALTOPS, the UK will contribute to the region’s security in the sea, the sky and on land.

HMS Kent’s Commanding Officer Commander Matt Sykes said:

My ship’s company are eager to take part in the exercise and up for the challenge, focussing on our ability to operate seamlessly with our NATO and partner nations.

In these turbulent times, it is also vitally important that we demonstrate our commitment to the region and to upholding the principles of freedom of access to the Baltic Sea.

There are currently over 800 British Army personnel deployed in Estonia, where they lead a multinational battlegroup as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence. Elsewhere, RAF Typhoons are in Lithuania this summer to contribute to the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission.

HMS Kent’s participation in BALTOPS represents a return to the Baltic Sea Region for the ship and her crew after she took part in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) deployment Baltic Protector last year. The JEF is a UK-led high-readiness force of nine north European nations that helps to uphold security in the region.