Members of Wolverhampton City Council's Carer Support Team will be out and about offering advice and support to the thousands of local people who carry out a caring role.
Carers Week runs from Monday 9 June to Sunday 15 June, 2014, and the Carer Support Team and some of the council's partner organisations will be holding a drop-in session at Life Direct, Victoria Street, Wolverhampton, from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday 11 June.
Team members will be on hand to speak to carers about the help that is available to them and answer any questions which they may have. They will also be on the lookout for "hidden carers" - people that carry out a caring role but may not realise they are carers and are therefore entitled to support.
Representatives from the council's Telecare and Neighbourhood Support Service, Omega, MicroPoint and West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service will also be on hand to provide advice and guidance.
Meanwhile, the Carer Support Team will be holding a further drop-in session at Bilston Market on Friday 13 June from 10am to 2.30pm.
It is estimated that around 27,500 people in Wolverhampton care for an elderly or vulnerable friend or relative, or someone with a disability or mental health needs.
The Carer Support Team works with carers to ensure that they are supported in their caring role, have access to the services they need and are able to claim the benefits they are entitled to.
Councillor Steve Evans, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "Unpaid carers who look after a family member or friend are the main providers of care in the community.
"Anyone who has looked after a loved one will know how incredibly hard this role is and we're determined to do all we can, through our Carer Support Team, to help them to carry it out successfully.
"Carers Week is an important event in the calendar and a good opportunity for carers to find out more about the support that is available to them here in Wolverhampton."
To find out more about support available to carers, please visit Type=articles;Articleid=2713;Title=Adult social care;, call the Carer Support Team on 01902 553429, email carer.support@wolverhampton.gov.uk or drop into the Carer Support Centre at Blossoms Fold, Off North Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4HJ, anytime between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Carers Week is an annual awareness campaign celebrating and recognising the contribution made by the UK's 6.5 million carers who look after an ill, frail or disabled family member or friend. For more information, please visit Type=links;Linkid=3343;Title=Carers Week 2014;Target=_blank;.
To celebrate Carers Week the City of Wolverhampton College's Hair Academy based at the Metro One campus, Bilston Street, is offering carers half-price hair cuts and money off colour services. To take advantage, carers should present their Carers Emergency Card when booking.
- released: Thursday 29 May, 2014