To celebrate the forthcoming launch of Carers Week, 10-16 June 2013, I teamed up with actress Lynda Bellingham to recognise the contribution carers make to Northfield.
Attending an event in Parliament to launch the national awareness campaign, Carers Week, I wanted to show my support to the hundred thousand carers who are provide vital support to people in Birmingham today.
Everyday in Northfield, 1 in 8 people are caring for a loved one in some way. But this group of people – who give up their time, sometimes their jobs and often make life changing sacrifices to care for someone – are not recognised or paid for their contribution. It is astonishing that carers are saving the country £119 billion every year. Carers week is an opportunity to celebrate the 6.5 million carers across the UK and raise awareness of the impact that caring has on people’s lives.
Asking whether the country is “prepared to care”, the 2013 campaign is highlighting how current carers in the UK are coping, raising awareness of the future caring responsibilities we all have, and looking at how carers are being supported today. The massive cuts the Tory-led government has made to local authority budgets are threatening the delivery of social care – particularly for older people – and increasing pressure on carers. Protecting and supporting our carers has never been more important.
You can find out more about the week, including what support and advice is available for carers, by visiting http://www.carersweek.org./
