The annual campaign is to raise awareness of caring, to highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and to recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.
The week also aims to help people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
Carers are people who look after or give support, either temporarily or permanently, a family member, friend or neighbour, because of illness, disability, a mental health problem, an addiction, or for an older person with care needs.
A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to somebody who can’t do this for themselves. Historically, PROPS carers have not seen themselves as carers even though they have the similar worries, fears and stresses as other carers, they also feel the pressure of the role and need appropriate support and respite times to help them continue to provide the care.
Adfam, the national carers charity tackling the effects of alcohol and drug use on families, reports that:
- Nearly 1 in 3 adults are affected by a relative’s drug use
- Care provided by family members would cost £747 million per year if it was provided by health and social care providers
To celebrate the commitment of our carers this year we’re inviting active carers to attend afternoon tea. We also have activities planned for all PROPS carers to access throughout National Carers Week.
If you would like to tell us about your story, positive or negative, about your personal experience of being a carer you can submit it on the ‘Get in Touch’ on the PROPS website.