Carers week events highlight support on offer

Released: 27 May 2008

Wolverhampton City Council will be marking Carers Week with a range of events aimed at the thousands of local people who care for someone.
 
Members of the council’s Carer Support Team will be highlighting the support and advice available to the estimated 26,000 people who give unpaid care to a relative or friend in the city.

The 14th annual Carers Week, which runs from Monday, 9 June, to Friday, 13 June, will raise awareness of the impact caring can have on carers' health and wellbeing.

It will also celebrate the contribution made by carers, campaign for better support and services for carers, promote services and schemes that can improve carers’ quality of life and reach out to ‘hidden’ carers – those people who perform a caring role but either don’t realise it or feel unable to ask for support – to ensure they know where to find help.

Events in Wolverhampton include a drop in session at the Carer Support Team’s base at 22 Queen Street on Monday, 9 June.  Carers will be invited to call in for refreshments and a chat with support workers and fellow carers.

There will also be a Carer’s Forum discussing Direct Payments being held at the Arena Theatre from 7pm on Tuesday, 10 June.

Support workers will also be manning an information stand outside TJ Hughes and Tesco in the Mander Centre from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday, 11 June, and at Bilston Market on Thursday, 12 June, again from 10am to 3pm.

The week's events culminate with a special Carer's Day at Bantock House when support and advice will be available from a range of organisations including JobCentre Plus, Wolverhampton Elderly Asian and Disabled Group, the African Caribbean Community Initiative, the Community Safety Partnership and education and leisure services, along with tips about things like staying in shape and eating healthily.

There will also be a free lunch and a performance from the popular Wolverhampton Orpheus Male Voice Choir.

Carer Support Team manager Brenda Stafford said: “This is a great chance for us to highlight some of the many services which we can offer to carers to help them carry out their crucial roles.

“It is also an opportunity for us to reach the hidden carers of Wolverhampton in an informal way and promote the support we can offer them”, she added.

Anyone wanting to find out more about any of the events, to book a place at Carer's Day or the Carer Forum, or for more information about the help on offer to carers in Wolverhampton can call the Carer Support Team on 01902 553409, or call in to the offices at 22 Queen Street.

Issued by the press office.