Landmarks light up for Carers Week

Carers Week (7-13 June) is an annual awareness campaign that celebrates and recognises the vital contribution of the UK's unpaid carers - supporting people who may have a disability, a mental or physical illness or need extra help as they grow older.

The theme for Carers Week 2021 is making carers visible and valued. To raise awareness, Sunderland is lighting landmarks including Northern Spire, Fulwell Mill, Seaburn Lighthouse and Keel Square in blue to mark the selfless dedication of carers and celebrate the difference they make to the lives of those they care for.

A survey from Carers Trust, the national charity that operates a network of over 120 local partner services, found that lockdown and closure of local services meant that one in six carers were having to work an additional forty hours a week.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Healthy City, Councillor Kelly Chequer, said: "For many of Sunderland's carers, the number of hours spent looking after a friend or family member has rocketed over the course of the pandemic, especially when many essential support services and day centres were forced to close during lockdowns.

"We want to recognise that these unpaid carers are doing an incredible job but also let them know that they are not alone and highlight some of the resources that are available to them.

"The council works in partnership with Sunderland Carers Centre and the local health service to provide a confidential information, advice and support service to carers, and this has been more important than ever during the Covid crisis."

On behalf of the Carers Week charities, Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic unpaid carers have played an essential role supporting older, disabled and seriously ill relatives and friends, doing so most of the year on their own behind closed doors. They have forgone breaks from caring and much of the support they would normally have relied on.

"As restrictions ease it is vital that we acknowledge the enormous contribution that unpaid carers continue to make day in day out. I am delighted that many individuals and organisations are getting involved with virtual activities, helping carers to connect to others and access advice and information locally. 

"Looking after someone can be a hugely rewarding experience, but it sometimes comes with difficulties, including getting the right support. This Carers Week I hope all parts of the community - family and friends, employers, businesses, schools, health and care services - do their bit to make caring visible and show it is valued."

If you are an unpaid carer in need of support, or you know an unpaid carer who needs support, please visit https://www.sunderlandcarers.co.uk/help/do-you-care/or www.carers.org. 

A survey of carers is now live and available online at  https://tinyurl.com/ADASSCare.