Let’s care for carers

Dear Editor

A total of 6.5 million people in the UK care, unpaid, for a disabled, older or ill family member or friend.

While caring can be rewarding, without the right support, it can also take a serious toll on a carer’s health, relationships and finances.

That’s why, this Carers Week (June 6-12), we are asking individuals and communities up and down the UK to do what they can to make life that little bit easier for carers. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can make a difference.

This year, we want to highlight the importance of Carer Friendly Communities – places where local people and services understand what it’s like to be a carer and do what they can to make life a little bit easier for carers.

As such, we’re asking people to visit the Carers Week website to recommend organisations, services and employers who are carer friendly, and to invite other organisations to use our checklist to commit to becoming carer friendly.

Carers Week is brought to life by the people and organisations who pledge their support, run events and activities, share information, and get the conversation about caring going on social media.

Get involved in Carers Week today! Visit www. carersweek.org to show your support, and to find out what events are happening in your area and all the ways you can take part.

Carers Week is made possible by Carers UK joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Motor Neurone Disease Association and MS Society.

Let’s make the most of Carers Week to show carers just how much we recognise and value the vital contribution they make to our families, communities and wider society.

Emily Holzhausen London