Celebrating the contribution of carers during Carers Week
This week is Carers Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. The 2023 Theme of Carers Week is ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community’ and they have produced a toolkit of digital assets in line with the national campaign to support carers and those around them during the week.
This Carers Week, the campaign wants communities across the UK to come together to recognise the huge contribution unpaid carers make to society. Politicians, employers, health and social services, businesses, education providers and members of the public all have a role to play in raising awareness of caring and making sure carers are able to access the information and support they need.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a monumental impact on unpaid carers’ lives – not only because of the increased amount of care that many provided, but because of the far-reaching effect that providing this level of care has had on unpaid carers. Many people also took on new caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.
Now, after three years caring through the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis is causing further stress and hardship for carers, who were already dealing with the financial difficulties that often come with caring.
Carers need to be recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for all they are doing, provided with information, and given the support they need to care safely.
The Trust is proud to be a member of the Triangle of Care and a supporter of Carers Week. We're pleased to be able to deliver five days of activities, please see the attached Carers Newsletter which contains details of the week's activities which includes creative arts, music, and social events.
All our activities are free and available to carers, families, and friends from across the boroughs of Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton, and Wandsworth and are to show our appreciation of the vital role carers, families and friends play in providing support for service users and patients and to recognise just how important caring in the community is.
Click here to download our Carers newsletter.
Have a look at the Merton carers events schedule (151 KB) and book your place.
