Carers Week 13 June 2011

' TRUE FACE OF CARERS'

3 in 5 people will be a carer at some point in their lives. This means there is a high chance that one day, the true face of a carer will be the one you see in the mirror.
Carers Week 2011 will be revealing the surprising stories behind the 6 million carers who save the country’s economy £119 billion every year.
Carers provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled. Some are forced to give up work to give 24 hour care. Others hold down top-level jobs, working a double life as carer and employee. Some carers are children and young people; those who should be the cared for, having to do the caring.
An allowance of £53.90 a week is all full-time carers get. And that’s for a minimum of a 35 hour caring week. At £1.54 an hour, this is a third of the national minimum wage.
Carers Week 2011 will be highlighting and celebrating the incredible contribution that carers make, sharing the challenges overcome as well as those still being faced. We will be campaigning for greater support and recognition for carers and informing those who are unaware of the services and benefits they are entitled to. 

To thank Wirral Carers this year the Carers Agency Network joined forces with Wirral Met to provide over 180 carers with a therapy including facials, massage, nail treatments of hair styles. The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Moira McLaughlin opened the day and chatted to carers about their caring roles.

Carers Week

Click here for more information about Carers Week