Mohammad Asghar
South Wales East
I would like to send every best wish to all involved in the 2010 Carers Week.  The support that carers give many people in our society is absolutely crucial and too often goes unheralded.  The 2010 Carers Week provides a great opportunity to reflect upon hard work that carers do and I am delighted to offer my support.

Mick Bates
Montgomeryshire
As someone who was a young carer, I know how incredibly challenging and demanding it can be and too often when caring for someone you forget about the need to look after yourself too.  Carers Week reminds us of the incredibly valuable work that carers do every day, offering their time and energy without question to support individuals and families.  It is also a reminder to carers that their work is crucial and so deeply appreciated and not to be afraid, when carers in turn need support, to reach out to friends and family who are there to help.

Peter Black
South Wales West
It is important that we recognise the crucial roles carers play in our society and provide them with the support they need.  In Carers Week, we can learn more about what kind of help will make most difference and improve the quality of carers’ lives.  The event will hopefully raise the public’s awareness of the financial, physical, and psychological difficulties that carers face, and let the call for changes in our benefit system and health and social services be more widely heard.

Nick Bourne
Mid and West Wales
It gives me great pleasure to offer my support to Carers Week 2010.  We owe a huge dept of gratitude to carers and should do all we can to support them.  We must recognise the role played by voluntary carers, without whom local social services would be incapable of meeting the needs of the disabled and the chronically ill.  I hope that measures such as the right to respite care and to increase awareness of the financial support available are highlighted during this week to raise awareness of the excellent work done by carers.

Angela Burns
Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire
I have seen the commitment of carers, both first hand and through meeting carers in my constituency.  Carers are the unsung heroes of our communities and seldom recognise the support or recognition they deserve. I stand foursquare behind carers and commit to trying to change their situation, their standing
and their lives for the better.

Rosemary Butler
Newport West
I recognise the hard work and commitment of all carers, including young carers, who have to provide care week in and week out, often at great sacrifice to themselves. I commend the work undertaken by organisations supporting carers and will continue to champion the needs of carers in my role as an Assembly Member.

Christine Chapman
Cynon Valley
Our carers in Wales provide selfless support to their loved ones. They truly deserve recognition and Carers Week is a great opportunity to highlight the valued contribution they make.

Jeff Cuthbert
Caerphilly
Carers provide vital service and support for over 340,700 disabled or ill people in Wales.  They contribute a tremendous amount to our economy and society most of which is low or unpaid work.  Carers often sacrifice many personal pleasures and freedoms to care for those who need it the most. Carers Week 2010 is a perfect opportunity to recognise and thank the 1 in 8 adults out there doing this work for all they do.  I would like to send my support and thanks to all carers and encourage others to recognise them as well from 14th-20th June.

Andrew Davies
South Wales Central
I am delighted to support Carers’ Week.  I know only too well the dedication and kindness of carers across the country and I have the utmost respect and appreciation for the hard work they carry out, which, sadly, often goes unrecognised.  I hope that in Carers’ Week 2010 we can help raise awareness of the role of carers, their needs and what politicians and others in society can do to help them.

Jocelyn Davies
South Wales East
The six million carers in the UK dedicate their time providing unpaid care to a relative or friend.  Because of this, they are rarely able to pursue a life of their own.  It is essential that they are provided a full spectrum of support in this role.  They are already providing a benefit to society which is the equivalent to the funding to the NHS.  This should be recognised.  I fully support the aims of Carers Week.  It is essential that all carers are allowed to maintain some semblance of a life of their own.

Paul Davies
Preseli Pembrokeshire
Well deserved thanks and support must go to Carers everywhere, young and old alike who provide care for someone who is wholly dependant on them day in and day out. It is, for most of us, a lifestyle that we cannot imagine, and the dedication, care, love and sacrifice that is part and parcel of a Carer’s work is to be applauded.  At some point in time, the majority of us will have had to care for someone due to illness or convalescing, and we know how demanding and limiting this can be.  However, to dedicate your life to taking care of someone is an order of magnitude above and beyond the everyday care that we give to someone who needs short term or convalescing care. Carers Week highlights the crucial part that Carers play and the invaluable and wonderful work they do. Without the dedication of these unsung heroes, the burden on, and cost to, the NHS would be dramatically increased, and in today’s economic environment, the available workforce would be unable to meet the demand. 

Christopher Franks
South Wales Central
During my attempts to improve services to stroke victims I have been impressed by the huge dedication shown by their families.  In many instance, overnight, spouses have to become carers, nurses, financial managers and advocates.  If house adoptions are required the family has to arrange builders and contractors. The pressure put on carers is immense and there all too often is too little help is available.  There should be more support and additional respite care available.

Janice Gregory
Ogmore
Like all AMs I know from work in my constituency the crucial role of carers.  I know that carers give of their time and energy out of love and devotion to family members but that makes it all the more important that society should not take their efforts for granted.  Without their voluntary efforts and unpaid work, government and local government would face huge costs but would still not be able to deliver the same level and quality of care.  it is therefore important that as elected politicians we listen to carers, and do whatever we can to support them.  Particularly in a period of financial stringency, it will not be easy to solve every problem and meet every need with additional spending, so we need to work together to find imaginative and innovative ways of meeting the needs of carers.

Trish Law
Blaenau Gwent
I know perhaps more than most what it’s like to be a carer.  While it can be very rewarding it can also be very demanding.  It demands of your time, of course, but it is usually physically and emotionally demanding as well.  I cared for my husband, Peter, after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and he eventually slipped out of this life in April, 2006.  Peter was Blaenau Gwent’s Member of Parliament and Welsh Assembly Member.  I took over the mantle of Assembly Member in June that year and I am proud to say that I am doing my utmost to be a worthy AM successor.  There are more than 340,000 carers in Wales and I salute each and every one of you for your dedication and commitment.  I wish more people would appreciate the huge contribution you are making to the health and welfare of people who would otherwise be dependent on the state. Thank you and God Bless you one and all.

Val Lloyd
Swansea East
Carers in Wales do an amazing job and this week is an excellent opportunity to celebrate their work and give them thanks.  I will continue to work to ensure that the contribution of carers is fully recognised and that they are able to enjoy support and much needed respite.

David Melding
South Wales Central
The wellbeing of carers is crucial.  More respite, good timely information, and supportive networks are all essential.  The work of Carers Wales and other organisations helping carers continue to be of the very highest value.  Good luck with the campaign.

Nick Ramsay
Monmouth
I cannot praise enough the valuable work done by carers, young and old, who often make huge sacrifices in order to look after their loved ones.  Unfortunately, they are all too often unsung heroes providing a hidden service.  It is important that we do whatever we can to highlight and celebrate the
massive contribution that carers make.

Jenny Randerson
Cardiff Central
This is an opportunity for all of us to remember the carers we know, to focus on their needs and to campaign for a better deal for all of them.  Carer play a key role in our society and in our economy, and they deserve more from us in return.