Now in it’s 20th year, Carers Week is an UK-wide annual campaign which aims to improve the lives of carers and the people they care for, through raising awareness and celebrating the contribution of the country’s 6.5 million carers.
This year a new initiative – the Carers Week Quest – aims is to encourage improved collaborative working in local communities and reach out to thousands of carers who are currently missing out on services and support available to them.
Helen Clarke, Carers Week Manager, explains: “The Carers Week Quest is an important new initiative aiming to reach out to the thousands of carers in the UK missing out on support and services that can help them with their caring role. By working together during Carers Week with charities, businesses, community groups and public services, we have a huge opportunity to raise the profile of what caring is, who carers are, the impact it has on their lives and to help thousands of people who are missing out on help and support which could make a real difference to their lives.”
Individuals and organisation can pledge their support on the Carers Week Quest website, where you can also see who else has made the pledge.
The website also provides ideas and inspiration on how to get involved in Carers Week and reach out to carers in the UK who are missing out on support and services.
For example, at hospices, where frontline staff and volunteers come into contact every day with carers, there a number of small actions which can make a big difference to carers. The Carers Week website makes the following suggestions for how hospices can get involved in awareness week:
- Dedicated information all year round available in reception or on a notice board about support and services available to carers and family.
- Find out about events planned locally during Carers Week and promote these to visitors and staff.
- Brief staff so they are knowledgeable about the support on offer to carers – locally and nationally.
- Run a Listening to Families event – help improve the quality of the services you provide by consulting family members during Carers Week.
- Organise events for the whole family to recognise and celebrate their role such as a family BBQ, garden party, afternoon tea or coffee morning, fancy dress fundraiser, activities day with local entertainers and creative workshops, sing-a-long or musical performance.
- Host a regular support groups for family members co-delivered with a local carers group.
- Offer free therapeutic treatments to carers during Carers Week.
Visit the Carers Week website for more information, or get regular updates through through Facebook or Twitter (@carersweek)
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