Carers Week is a UK-wide annual awareness campaign. During the week the UK’s six million unpaid carers are celebrated and recognised for the contribution they make to those they care for, and to their communities.
During the campaign we raise the profile of unpaid carers in the national, regional and local media. Organisations throughout the UK are encouraged to take part and join in by organising events, running information sessions and recognising the carers they work with or support.
Carers Week is delivered by a partnership of eight national charities:
Age UK, Carers Trust. Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society and Parkinson’s UK.
In 2011:
- Media coverage reached millions of people.
- More than 100,000 carers took part in Carers Week
- Over 8,000 events and activities were held across the UK, organised by over 1,700 local organisations.
- Nearly 400 MPs signed up to support Carers Week
- The campaign was supported by celebrities including Dame Judi Dench and Sir David Jason OBE and Jack Charlton OBE.
In 2012 we will be highlighting how:
- the health and well-being of carers is paramount
- cuts to local services does have a knock on effect on the health and well being of unpaid carers.
- recognition by professionals, and by others who impact on carers day-to-day lives, can help to make a massive difference
