Eight major charities have joined together in a bid to build carer friendly communities.

Carers UK, Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Motor Neurone Disease Association, MS Society and Which? Elderly Care are all part of the Building Carer Friendly Communities initiative, which will be the focus of this year’s Carers Week (12-18 June).

The charities involved aim to raise awareness about the 6.5 million people across the UK who currently provides unpaid care for a disabled, ill or older family member or friend.

David Mowat MP, Minister for Community Health and Care, last week joined senior representatives from the Carers Week charities, NHS, local government and business to launch community engagement for Carers Week encouraging local organisations, the public and carers to get involved in the week and pledge their support to build Carer Friendly communities.
 
Carers Week 2017 aims to shed light on a carer’s daily reality and encourage others in their community to do what they can to make life a little bit easier for them. 
 
David Mowat MP, Minister for Community Health and Care, said:
“Carers make an invaluable contribution to society — and I was delighted to join colleagues in promoting Carer Friendly communities. We are already working hard to support them and have introduced huge reforms, including a duty for local authorities to assess any carer who requires support. But we can all play a part to make sure our communities are carer friendly — I commend the Carers Week campaign to raise awareness of this vital issue.”
 
Heléna Herklots CBE, on behalf of Carers Week, 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 have a huge impact on a carer’s emotional and physical health, work and finances.
 
“Carers have told us that it makes a huge difference to their lives when they are supported by their local services and communities; building Carer Friendly communities, whether that’s offering a flexible GP appointment, having flexible working policies or raising awareness in schools of caring, can make a positive difference.
 
“We want the public to recommend Carer Friendly communities and urge everyone to pledge their support to carers and make a change.”