Carers Week is an annual national event and is about recognising and valuing unpaid carers.
A carer can be someone of any age, who may be in paid work or not, who supports a friend or family member due to their illness, disability, frailty, mental health or substance misuse.
Some of us may not identify themselves as a ‘carer’ because it’s something we just do.
We are joining forces with Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, Dorset Healthcare, Dorset CCG, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Bournemouth and Poole NHS Trusts, Carer Support Dorset and Rethink and many others organisations across Dorset, to reach out, support and help celebrate carers and what they do, especially at this difficult time.
‘Making Carers Visible’ is the theme this year and we are encouraging carers, and everyone in the community, to celebrate and recognise the contribution of this often-hidden group of people.
Even if you are not a carer, think about your friends and family, it is likely that you will know someone who is looking after another person.
Across the UK today an estimated 6.5 million people or 1 in every 8 are carers and this includes many thousands who live in Dorset!
Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health said:
“We know that carers during this time will be struggling more than ever. Even at the best of times it can be very lonely when you’re caring for someone.
“The theme of this year’s Carers Week is making carers visible and one of the easiest, simplest things you can do to recognise someone you know that’s a carer, and make them feel visible, is take the time to check in with them and ask if they are ok.
If you’re a carer and need some support or advice, the best place to start is Carers Support Dorset, a not for profit service funded by the council to help carers in the Dorset area.”
Carers Support Dorset
If you are a carer in the Dorset Council area visit www.carersupportdorset.co.uk to find out about the help that’s available to you and more about the events and activities taking place this week. The team will also be available for a chat if that is what you need right now. Call 0800 368 8349.
Get creative!
Why not print out the Carers Week poster and colour it in to your heart’s content? We’d love to see you pop it in your window to show passers by too! Please share your final versions with us on Facebook or Twitter.
Download a Carers Week poster template.
