Carer Support Wiltshire Cookery Course and Bushcraft Day Help Reduce Isolation for Male Carers

Carer Support Wiltshire are running a series of activities just for male unpaid carers, and they’re so far proving popular with this group of people who can often find themselves socially isolated.

The Farm Cookery School in Chippenham hosted a session for male carers at the end of September, teaching them how to make a main dish from scratch. The school was able to provide a safe environment for six carers (and a family member if they wished to bring one along) thanks to specially created Pods that enable physical distancing. Among the food on the menu to choose from was Moroccan chicken and cous cous and chicken curry.

Attendee Terry O’Brien, Corsham said: “It was a good opportunity to meet other like-minded men. The cooking was an interesting project and I was encouraged to try this at home. It was an opportunity to get out of the house, plus a wonderful location.”

Tom McGowran, Marlborough, who cares for his wife who has muscular dystrophy said: “It’s been very useful and I am now able to cook more varied meals. Please keep organising these events – they are most useful and inspiring.”

Rachael Demery, Carer Support Wiltshire’s Community Fundraising Officer said: “Older male carers are less likely to seek support when they need it and are more likely to be socially isolated and lonely than their female counterparts. While we support all carers and most of our events are open to all, we’re really pleased to have received funding from Carers Trust to help us to reach this group of carers in particular.”

Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team in Westbury also held an outdoor bushcraft and axe-throwing event in September, and will be holding a second bushcraft and archery session later this month.

Carer Roy attended the September activity and said: “The day let me know that I am not alone as a male carer. The event activities were very well organised and the time was filled with enjoyable content and conversation. I enjoyed it very much.”

The next bushcraft event will take place on Tuesday, 27^th October, 10am-1pm. Anyone who is a male carer is invited to attend, although places are limited. Please call 0800 181 4118 or email [email protected] to book your place.