Carers Week helps recognise and support unpaid carers

Unpaid carers across the Craven district were celebrated, recognised and supported during a range of events for Carers Week.

Local charity Carers’ Resource held events and activities across Bradford, Harrogate, Craven and Selby districts, to mark the week, which ran from June 5-11.

The charity supports unpaid carers; anyone who looks after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness, addiction or frailty.

The theme of this year’s Carers Week was ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community’.

Scores of local organisations, politicians, council officers, health officials, businesses and community groups flocked to the Carers’ Resource offices in Skipton, Harrogate, Selby and Shipley, during the week, to find out how they could better support unpaid carers.

The charity’s staff also held stands in supermarkets across the districts to raise awareness of unpaid carers. Carers themselves benefited from many exciting, relaxing and fun events too.

Chris Whiley, Carers’ Resource CEO, said: “We’re very grateful to everyone who helped make Carers Week such a success.

“The events in our offices were very popular with lots of people from other local organisations attending to find out how they can support unpaid carers.

“We’ve been delighted with the response from the public in supermarkets across the districts, and our staff and volunteers have gone above and beyond to give carers a number of wonderful activities to enjoy.

“We hope this week has helped raise awareness of unpaid carers and the huge contribution they make to their families, friends, and to society as a whole. We hope we’ve also managed to reach out to more carers and let them know that we are here to support them with emotional and practical help, if they need us.”

Activity highlights for carers during the week included an open event at the Carers’ Resource allotment in Undercliffe, Bradford, a Carers Coffee Morning in Selby, a Carers Week Afternoon Tea at Carers’ Resource in Shipley, a carers’ lunch group at the Railway Pub in Skipton, and holistic therapy sessions for carers in Harrogate.

To find out more about Carers’ Resource, please visit www.carersresource.org or call 0808 50 15 939.