The first ever London-wide Carer Festival, organised by LondonADASS and supported by London local authorities, voluntary groups and volunteers, took place on Saturday 21st September 2019.
The festival was hosted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets at Bromley-by-Bow Centre and Bob’s Park in East London.
Designed to champion the work they do in an uplifting and inspiring way, around 500 carers from every London borough and their loved ones were invited to join in the fun.
The focal point of the festival was the main stage, where a dazzling variety of show-stopping performances took place throughout the afternoon.
There were also food stalls, arts and crafts activities, a meditation zone and a venue for performances exploring social issues.
Anne Canning, LondonADASS Carer Lead and Group Director at Hackney Council, said:
London’s carers are incredibly proud of what they do. Rather than focussing on the challenges they face, they told us they wanted a celebration that showcased their talents and experience both as carers and as people – a day to enjoy themselves.
The LondonADASS Carer Festival was the first event of its kind in the capital and it was a huge success, enjoyed by hundreds of carers and their families. I speak for all London boroughs, the City of London and participating voluntary groups and volunteers when I say it was a joy and a privilege to be involved.
Awa, a carer who attended the festival, said:
It was a joyous and nice event to get people celebrating themselves and their hard work.
Sirima, another carer who attended the festival, said:
Thank you all who organised [the festival] and entertained us so well. It was good to see differently able, diverse cultures involved in all activities.
Nationally, it is estimated that there are seven million carers in England – one in ten people.
London borough adult social care services provide support for people with caring responsibilities. This includes respite care, training, advice on Carers’ Allowance and access to carers’ networks for peer support.
Click on the links below to download photos from the festival: