Paid and unpaid carers are being giving the opportunity to claim one of a thousand free three-night staycations. Care home market-place Lottie is giving away luxury cabin getaways as a way of saying 'thank you' to unsung heroes.
‘Nights on Lottie’ – is a new not-for-profit initiative that offers care workers and caregivers a break from their caring responsibilities. Voting is open now - nominate a carer to win by visiting: lottie.org/nights-on-lottie
In partnership with The Care Workers Charity, the UK's leading charity for supporting current and former care workers with financial grants and other support services, Lottie will offer 1,000 free night stays at destinations exclusively for carers across the UK in 2023.
The campaign has been launched by dancer Anton Du Beke who has first-hand experience of the work of carers as his mother worked as a carer. He said: “The majority of adults will care for a family member or friend at some point in their lives, and naturally the impact on a whole range of things are underestimated.
“This initiative is a way of giving much needed respite to carers both paid and unpaid on the frontline.
Will Donnelly co-founder Lottie said: “We are thankful to Anton for his help in raising awareness of the valuable role that carers play up and down the country day in and day out.
"Despite being a fundamental part of the UK’s healthcare system – especially over the last few years – the UK’s social care workforce are often overworked and underappreciated. Many carers, especially unpaid carers, (someone who cares for a friend or family member due to illness, a disability, or a mental health issue) feel invisible and unrecognised for all that they do.
“We are incredibly honoured to have Anton’s support to launch our 1000-night pledge. Nights On Lottie is a huge opportunity to raise awareness of our on-going mission to champion the incredible efforts of carers across the UK - and it was inspired by the fantastic work of Nights On Us, who gifted NHS workers free hotel stays during the pandemic.".
To kick start the nationwide mission, Lottie have teamed up with Unplugged, who run a variety of digital detox cabins in the UK countryside, to offer over 30 x 3-night stays for carers (and a plus one) in need of a break.
Hector Hughes, Co-Founder of Unplugged, said: “We started Unplugged to help busy and burnt-out people rest and recharge. Carers are always on and always putting others before themselves. We’re so pleased to be a part of this and to help them switch off in nature for a few days with an Unplugged digital detox.”
Nights On Lottie’s first giveaway with Unplugged will run until midnight on January 9, 2023. Open to anyone who works as a care worker or carer (both paid and unpaid), all you need to do is either nominate yourself, a friend, family member, or colleague, via the online submission form.
33 winners will be chosen at random when the competition ends to win a free 3-night stay at one of Unplugged’s cabins at any time in 2023 (excluding Bank Holidays).
“The support for those on the frontline of the social care sector doesn’t stop there either: we want to continue championing them through our pledge of 1000 free night stays at a variety of hotels and cabins, exclusively for carers and social care workers. Nights On Lottie X Unplugged is only the beginning” said Donnelly.
Karolina Gerlich, CEO of The Care Workers Charity said: “Since 2009, we’ve supported thousands of social care workers through financial hardships, including giving almost £2 million pounds of support to carers via our Emergency Fund grants during 2020*. Unfortunately, unless there is industry-wide change that offers social care workers the help they need, we expect the number of carers we help to significantly rise over the winter months. Every bit helps, and we are delighted to support Lottie’s mission to champion the incredible efforts of carers across the UK."
Voting is open now - nominate a carer to win by visiting: lottie.org/nights-on-lottie
