Carers Week 2021
What is Carers Week?
Carers Week is a campaign that runs every year to raise awareness of caring, in recognition of the challenges unpaid carers face as well as the contribution they make to families and communities across the UK. It also helps to identify carers who did not see themselves as such and to allow them access to much-needed support. This year, Carers Week is being run from the 7th to the 13th June.
There are 6.5 million people in the UK who are carers, defined as someone who looks after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness. Caring impacts on all areas of life in a significant way. From relationships and health to money and work, carers are facing even more difficult circumstances this year.
How this past year is different
During the pandemic, carers have taken on huge challenges, many providing more care while dealing with financial issues and higher isolation. To focus on recognising carers and valuing them for the vital contribution they make every day, this year Carers Week is aiming to ‘Make Caring Visible and Valued.’ Carers need to be recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for what they are doing, and provided with information, support and understanding.
How you can get involved
For carers:
A range of online activities are being run to help with carers’ wellbeing and make them feel valued. If you are a carer that wants to participate in activities in Carers Week, follow this link and enter ‘Carers Wales’ in the search bar asking for your postcode or area.
For everyone:
Due to the lack of breaks that carers have been able to take this past year, this Carers Week campaign is focused on increasing funding for carers’ breaks to allow carers providing significant hours of care to access respite. Each person can make their contribution here:
Free course for carers
EPP Cymru are running a specialist virtual course for carers:
Looking After Me & You, from Monday 14th June to 19th July 2021 at 10:30am
Stay up to date with upcoming courses and events.
Follow EPP Cymru on Facebook or Twitter.
To discover more free mental wellbeing courses, see our free online courses page.
– Carson McCullers
Follow us on social media
For wellbeing tips and resources, head over to our social media channels and learn more!