CARERS' WEEK

Carers' Week is 5-11 June and this week I met with unpaid carers to hear about their experiences.

I pledged to raise awareness of and support unpaid carers across North Ayrshire & Arran.

Carers Week is an annual awareness week which recognises the vital contribution made by people caring unpaid for family members or friends who have a disability, illness, mental health condition, or who need extra help as they grow older.

New research released for Carers Week found that:

• Half of the UK population have had some experience of providing unpaid care to an older or disabled or ill relative or friend.

• Nearly three quarters of people with experience of caring hadn’t identified themselves as unpaid carers – approximately 19 million across the UK.

• Nearly one third of people said that providing unpaid care had a negative impact on their health and wellbeing – approximately 8 million people across the UK.

Being an unpaid carer is a huge responsibility and it is right that we raise awareness of the crucial support they provide to friends and family members, often without any time out for themselves Carers Trust Scotland.