Charities meet with Minister for Care to discuss recovery and respite for unpaid carers and launch the countdown to Carers Week 2022
Carers UK and six other charities who are supporting Carers Week 2022 joined with the Minister for Care and Mental Health, Gillian Keegan MP, for a roundtable on 31 March 2022 to highlight the need to better recognise and support the millions of unpaid carers supporting family and friends in our communities.
To mark the start of the countdown to Carers Week, taking place between 6-12 June 2022, the discussion explored the support carers need to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the challenges they continue to face in getting suitable breaks and respite from their caring responsibilities. Discussions also focussed on how Carers Week itself can act as a catalyst to ensure carers are more visible, valued and supported, the theme of this year’s Carers Week.
Organised by Carers UK, the discussion included representatives from Age UK, Carers Trust, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Oxfam GB, Rethink Mental Illness, and The Lewy Body Society.
The attendees heard from Dorothy, who cares for her husband Melvyn, who has a rare brain disease which affects his mobility and ability to communicate. Dorothy spoke about the challenges she has faced with her caring responsibilities over the past 12 months – including the poorly managed hospital discharges she has recently experienced – and the need for carers to be better supported.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
I thank the Minister for helping us begin the countdown to Carers Week 2022, and Dorothy for sharing her extremely difficult experiences as an unpaid carer during the past two years. Carers Week is such a valuable moment in the year to both recognise unpaid carers and to shine a light on the support carers desperately need.
“Our theme for Carers Week this year is 'make caring Visible, Valued and Supported' and events and activities will be taking place across the country.”
Gillian Keegan MP, Minister for Care and Mental Health, said:
Carers play a vital role in our communities and they’ve worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support family and friends in need.
“Meeting with the charities involved with Carers Week was a great opportunity to discuss how we can work together to make the week as impactful as possible.
“It was invaluable to speak with Dorothy who cares for her husband Melvyn about her experience as a carer. I want to thank her and every carer for all they have done and continue to do for their loved ones.”
Carers Week is an annual awareness campaign which takes place each year to recognise the vital contribution made by the millions of unpaid carers in the UK. It is also a time of intensive local activity with hundreds of activities and events planned for carers across the UK. To find out more and discover ways to get involved this June, visit carersweek.org
Notes to Editors
Media contact
For media enquiries, please contact Carers UK who are handling media queries for Carers Week:
020 7378 4937 (daytime) / 07580 130090/ 07941 273 108 (out of hours)
About Carers Week 2022
Carers Week takes place from 6-12 June 2022 across the UK. The theme is 'make caring Visible, Valued and Supported'.
Carers Week, established by Carers UK 28 years ago, is an annual awareness campaign which takes place recognise the vital contribution made by the UK’s 6.5 million carers. It is also a time of intensive local activity with hundreds of activities and events planned for carers across the UK.
Carers Week is proud to be taking place during the Month of Community - https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/month-of-community
Website: www.carersweek.org
Twitter: @CarersWeek #carersweek
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarersWeek
What is a carer?
A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition or who needs extra help as they grow older.