A CELEBRATION of unsung heroes in our community is taking place this week.
Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils are marking Carers Week 2022 by highlighting the role unpaid carers play and the contribution they make to families and the wider local community.
An unpaid carer is anyone, including children and adults, who look after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.
Carers Week – which runs from June 6-12 - is a national 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. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to provide support for carers, run activities, highlight the vital role carers play in our communities and draw attention to just how important caring is.
To make caring visible, valued and supported throughout the week, several events and activities are planned by local carers services in partnership with We Care You Care - a 'one stop shop' information and advice website and campaigns project for unpaid carers across the South Tees.
We Care You Care is hosted by Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency (MVDA) and funded by Redcar and Cleveland Council and Middlesbrough Council.
Two key events planned are carers' information drop-in sessions offering advice. The first will take place in the Cleveland Centre, Middlesbrough on Thursday, June 9 from 11am-3pm. The second will take place at Footprints Community Café on High Street, Redcar on Friday, June 10 from 10am-2pm.
Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Cllr Mary Ovens, said:
“It is really important that unpaid carers know support is available to them and carers week is a great opportunity to highlight the role carers play and the contribution they make to families and the wider community.
“Many unpaid carers don't identify with the term 'carer', they are a husband, daughter, grandparent looking after a loved one however it is important that they have somewhere to go for help and support."
Development Officer for We Care You Care, Kelly Baxter explained:
“Many people do not recognise that they are in a caring role. First and foremost, they are identifiable with the relationship they have to the person they care for, a mother, grandparent, uncle, daughter, friend, etc. However, their responsibilities as a carer can quickly begin to impact on their own health and well-being if they are unaware of their options for connecting to local emotional and practical support.
“We want to collectively raise the profile of unpaid care across the South Tees area and ensure people have access to information, advice, and signposting to the fantastic range of local support available. Come along to your nearest information drop-in and meet some of the key carer's services and connect to other local carers. I look forward to meeting you there."
For further information and advice please visit www.wecareyoucare.info or follow on facebook @wecareyoucarelocal