Carers Week 2021: Make Caring Visible and Valued

We’ve posted before about carers, but there’s never too little we can say about them.  Our unsung heroes, they work tirelessly, unpaid, providing support to people who need it most.  Whether it’s older people who need a little help getting around, or providing emotional support for people with mental health issues to support for those with disabilities, carers make a huge difference which all too often goes unnoticed.

The theme of Carers Week 2021 is Make Caring Visible and Valued – a theme which many carers will no doubt feel isn’t happening often enough.  It’s time to not only celebrate the vital work that carers do but also provide the long-overdue support they need

Caring impacts not just those that are cared for, be they children, older people or differently abled people, but also those who care for them and the services which would otherwise do so, such as the NHS.

Carers Week 2021: 4.5 Million More Carers Since The Pandemic

It is estimated that a staggering 4.5 million people in the UK have started caring in an unpaid capacity since the beginning of the pandemic.  Often managing a job on top of caring for loved ones, the pressure which is placed upon carers highlights the need for greater understanding and support., both emotionally and financially.

There are also people who don’t consider themselves to be carers even though they look after and take on responsibilities on behalf of other people.  The aim of this years’ Carers Week is to “make caring visible and valued”.  A range of individuals and organisations have come together to provide support for carers and highlight the importance of caring and the impact it has on all of us.  It’s hugely important that as a society we recognise the impact carers make as well as providing for them to ensure they have the support they need.

You can find out more about Carers Week 2021 and how to get involved on the official website here.