Seven major charities have launched Carers Week 2016 in a bid to raise nationwide awareness of the issues and challenges carers face. Carers Week is set to run from 6-12 June. 

 

Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for Social Care and Community, joined the Carers Week charities to call on individuals and organisations from across the UK to sign up to the campaign and do what they can to support carers in their community.

 

6.5million people in the UK currently care, unpaid, for a disabled, ill or older family member or friend. Research for Carers Week 2015 revealed that carers are experiencing huge variations in the level of support and recognition they get from their local community. As a result, this is putting their health and ability to look after the person they care for at serious risk.

 

Carers Week 2016 will focus on helping individuals, services and businesses to build Carer Friendly Communities – places where local people and services support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that carers are individuals with needs of their own.

 

Carers UK have joined forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Motor Neurone Disease Association and MS Society to establish Carers Week. 

 

A Carers Week spokesperson said: “Carers Week is a fantastic way to celebrate the vital contribution carers make to our families, communities and wider society. We know that caring for a loved one can be a rewarding experience, but without the right support at the right time, caring can also take a serious toll on a carer’s health, relationships and finances. 

 

“By shedding light on what it means to be a carer, we hope that everyone will be inspired to do what they can to make life that little bit easier for carers. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can make a difference. Building Carer Friendly Communities won’t happen overnight, but we can make them a reality – one brick at a time.”