DEVON County Council (DCC) are launching a new online tool to help them find the information and services that they need more easily.

To be launched across the county within the month, ‘Bridgit’ will help unpaid carers find health support, guidance, services and self-help resources at the click of a button.

This week is Carers Week, an opportunity to shine a light on the thousands in Devon who have caring responsibilities.

Approximately nine per cent of people in Devon are unpaid carers; that’s at least 75,000 people who care for a loved one or a friend.

While most carers are adults, there are also thousands of under 18s who support family members.

And just under half of these unpaid carers spend at least 20 hours per week carrying out their responsibilities, and that’s often alongside working, their role within their family and even going to school or college.

This means that the time that they have to find out the information on how to best support their loved one is limited – and that’s where ‘Brigit’ comes in.

Councillor Richard Keeling the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: ‘Many won’t even think of themselves as being carers, because the person they are looking after is a relative; but caring can bring a whole host of responsibilities and stresses.

‘Given that many have other responsibilities such as caring for their children or they are also working, it can mean that they have limited time to spend on researching what help and support is available, to organise suitable activities or to find health advice, and this can have a real impact on a carer’s health and wellbeing.

‘Bridgit has been developed with input from other carers and brings this all together in one place to help with everything from accessing benefits, your rights as a carer and to tips on looking after yourself and putting you in touch with other carers to help support you’.