Carers Week is dedicated to the UK’s six million carers.
Carers Week is a celebration of the contribution that carers make to those they care for, and to their communities. We bring to the fore the issues carers say are most important to them.
Together with thousands of carers, and local organisations who support carers, we use Carers Week to reach to the tens of thousands of carers who currently don’t know about or have access to the support and services available to them.
Carers Week is seven days when we pay tribute to every single carer, and the contribution they make to their families and their communities. Seven days when we seek to demonstrate to politicians, opinion-formers and the general public that carers deserve support and recognition not just for one week a year, but for 52.
Carers experience many different caring situations. A carer could be someone looking after a new baby with a disability, or caring for an elderly parent, someone supporting a partner, or helping to look after a friend or neighbour.
Taking on a caring role can mean facing a life of poverty, isolation, frustration, ill health and depression.
Many carers give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights to become a carer.
Many carers also work outside the home and are trying to juggle jobs with their responsibilities as carers.
The majority of carers struggle alone and do not know that help is available to them.
Carers say that access to information, financial support and breaks in caring are vital in helping them manage the impact of caring on their lives.
Carers often suffer ill-health due to their caring role. To care safely and maintain their own physical and mental health and well-being, carers need information, support, respect and recognition from the professionals with whom they are in contact. Improved support for the person being cared-for is often what carers most desire.
Carers need support to be able to juggle their work and caring roles or to return to work if they have lost employment due to caring.
With an ageing population, the UK will need more care from families and friends in the future. This is an issue that will touch everyone’s life at some point. Carer support concerns everyone.
The Carers Week partnership has been supporting and celebrating the achievements of the UK’s six million carers since 2001, and this year will be no different.
From 18-24 June 2012 over 1,500 local organisations throughout the UK will be staging events and activities for and with carers, and many of these will be published on this site as well as being publicised locally.
Have your say!
The annual survey of the UK’s carers is organised by Carers Week, and will be launched very soon, so please take the opportunity to complete the form – it only takes a few minutes to have your say.
Does your MP support carers?
In March, Carers Week will be writing to every MP, inviting them to express their support for carers and Carers Week. Find out what your MP has to say by visiting this page.
