Carers UK and eight other organisations who are supporting this year’s Carers Week joined with Labour’s Shadow Minister for Social Care, Andrew Gwynne MP, on Wednesday 15 May to highlight why millions of unpaid carers supporting family and friends in every community across the UK must be better recognised and supported.
Ahead of Carers Week, taking place between 10-16 June 2024, the discussion shone a light on the enormous contribution unpaid carers make to families and local communities as well as the support they need. Participants also focused on the importance of harnessing Carers Week as an opportunity to ensure more carers are aware of the help they can access, and that their voices are heard.
Organised by Carers UK, the discussion included representatives from Age UK, Carers Trust, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Oxfam GB, Rethink Mental Illness, The Lewy Body Society, The ME Association and TSB Bank plc. Attendees heard from Katy, a full-time carer to her husband Mark, who lives with Kennedy’s Disease, a rare genetic disorder that damages motor nerves and their control of muscle movement. She also provides care for her mother.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
I thank the Shadow Minister for supporting the countdown to Carers Week 2024, and to Katy for sharing her experiences as an unpaid carer. Carers Week is such a valuable moment in the year to both recognise unpaid carers for all that they do and to focus on the increased support carers so desperately need.
“Our theme for Carers Week this year is ‘Putting carers on the map’ and many events and activities will be taking place across the UK between 10-16 June. This year, Carers Week comes ahead of an anticipated Westminster General Election and we and our charity partners want to see every party committing to how they will support unpaid carers in their manifestos.”
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 and recognise the challenges they face. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to recognise themselves as carers and access much-needed support. It is a time of intensive local activity with hundreds of activities and events planned for carers across the UK by organisations. To find out more and discover what is happening and ways to get involved this June, visit carersweek.org
