Local MP, Maria Miller has pledged to champion and support unpaid carers across Basingstoke this Carers Week, which runs from 8-14 June.
Carers Week is an annual awareness week which recognises the vital contribution made by people caring unpaid for family members or friends who are older, disabled or seriously ill.
New research released for Carers Week shows that 4.5 million people in the UK have started caring for someone who is older, disabled or living with a physical or mental illness since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. This is on top of the 9.1 million unpaid carers who were already caring before the outbreak, bringing the total to 13.6 million.
Maria said , “I applaud the extraordinary role that unpaid carers have played during the last few months, since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, ensuring that vulnerable people in all our communities are properly cared for.
I am supporting Carers Week 2020 and pledged to champion unpaid carers across Basingstoke to ensure that they are connected to the support they need.”
The six charities including Age UK, Carers Trust, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Oxfam GB, and Rethink Mental Illness, are driving the awareness week are calling on individuals, organisations and services in local communities to help get unpaid carers connected to practical and financial support they need. So often, carers put their own needs behind those they care for.
On behalf of the Carers Week charities Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “This year it is more important than ever to raise the profile of caring and recognise the enormous contribution made by unpaid carers, who throughout the Covid-19 outbreak have played an essential role supporting friends and family who are older, disabled or seriously ill.
“Looking after someone can be a hugely rewarding experience, but it sometimes comes with difficulties, including getting the right support. This Carers Week all parts of the community – family and friends, employers, businesses, schools, health and care services – can do their bit to make caring visible and recognise carers’ contribution to society.”
Virtual carers’ events are taking place across the country this week, and thousands of people have already added their voice to the Carers Week voices wall. To find out more about events in Basingstoke or add your voice to the wall go to www.carersweek.org