City MP Stephen Morgan started Carers Week this year by attending a special speednetworking event with carers and charities in Westminster, pledging his support to unpaid carers in Portsmouth.
He also ended the week with a visit to Portsmouth Carers Centre where he met with staff and some unpaid carers from across the city, listened to concerns and offered his support.
Carers Week celebrates and recognises the vital contribution made by the 6.5 million people across the UK who currently provide care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.
Eight national charities have come together to call for urgent support for unpaid carers to be Healthy and Connected as new research released at the start of Carers Week reveals the toll that caring can take on many carers’ own health and wellbeing.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
“It was good to be able to show my support for the carers in our great city by meeting with representatives this week.
As someone who used to run a charity which supports young carers I know how valuable support to carers is. Unpaid carers make a huge contribution to our communities in Portsmouth, providing vital and often hidden support to friends and family members, and it is right that we value them and ensure they have the right support at the right time.
I look forward to working with the Carers charities, and, with unpaid carers across the city, to make a difference to their lives.”
Heléna Herklots CBE, Chief Executive of Carers UK, on behalf of Carers Week, said:
“Without the unpaid care provided every year by family and friends, our health and care services would collapse. Yet, caring for a loved one too often means carers neglect their own mental and physical health.
Finding the time and space to be healthy, get enough sleep and maintain relationships with others are all huge challenges identified by carers. By working together during Carers Week we have a huge opportunity to make our communities more Carer Friendly and make a difference to those who contribute so much.”
Carers Week 2018 is made possible by Carers UK joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, MS Society and Which? Elderly Care and kindly supported by Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition.
