Preseli MP Stephen Crabb has pledged his support to unpaid carers across Pembrokeshire as part of Carers Week 2019, running from 10-16 June.
Carers Week is a national awareness week that celebrates and recognises the vital contribution made by those caring unpaid for someone living with an illness, disability, mental health condition or as they grow older. Research released for Carers Week suggests there could be many more people than previously thought acting as unpaid carers to their family and friends - as many as 8.8 million adult carers across the UK.
Mr Crabb attended an event in Parliament to celebrate the valuable contribution carers make locally.
The seven charities driving Carers Week 2019 are calling on individuals, organisations and services throughout the country to improve the lives of carers by getting carers connected to practical and financial support, and are calling for a step change in the way society supports those caring unpaid for family and friends.
The call comes after new research revealed that one in three unpaid carers (35 per cent) are always or often lonely, compared with just one in twenty (five per cent) of the general population.
Speaking after the event, Stephen Crabb said:
“Carers are some of the most important unsung heroes in our society. I meet a lot of people in Pembrokeshire who devote enormous amounts of time looking after friends or family members. These caring responsibilities can impact upon their working life and social life. For young carers looking after a parent or grandparent it can affect how well they do at school and college.
“It is important carers receive the support they need, through the Carers Allowance and other ways. Please contact my office on 01437 767555 or stephen.crabb.mp@parliament.uk if you would like to discuss whether you may be entitled to extra assistance due to being a carer.”
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, on behalf of Carers Week, said:
“Caring for family or friends can be a rewarding experience, but without the right support it can also have a huge impact on carers’ lives. Our research shows that many carers feel alone and are struggling with low levels of wellbeing despite the invaluable contribution they make. It’s time carers received greater recognition and support.
“Government, employers, health and care professionals, schools and universities, and each of us individually, all have a role putting carers in touch with practical and financial help.”