Carers Week 7-13 June 2021 - Time to Recognise, Value and Support Surrey's 115,000 Carers

Carers Week is a national week to raise public awareness of caring, help people realise they are carers, and make carers aware of the support available.

Berkeley Group head office and the IT office in Send have been supporting Surrey Young Carers, part of Action for Carers, since 2015. Staff have held fundraising events ranging from sky-diving to bake offs, funding a Fun Day for young carers and their families. Berkeley staff have also held workshops for 16-18 year olds on CV writing and interview skills, helping to upskill the young carers and inspire them about future opportunities.

Surrey's 115,000 unpaid, family carers have been through a lot. COVID, and lockdown, put huge additional pressures on them, mentally, physically, and emotionally - making an already difficult role even harder.

Action for Carer's support has never stopped, and the charity is excited to announce some face-to-face events at last, plus a variety of online events, to help celebrate and support unpaid, family carers this Carers Week.

From picnics in many Surrey parks, drumming workshops and consultations, to online information and relaxation events, like mindfulness, illustration and yoga. There's also a Carers' Q&A with Esher & Walton MP Dominic Raab. All are free to unpaid carers who register with ACS. Events link: www.actionforcarers.org.uk/events/

But caring of course never stops, and Action for Carers Surrey is there to help carers every week. As well as events and support groups, on line and in person, ACS offer Surrey's unpaid family carers a whole host of support and information, including benefits help (including filling out forms), training and advice in looking after your back (often at risk as a carer), advocacy, expert knowledge and advice from both the helpline team and 1-to-1 Carers Advisors in the community. There are additionally Advisors working in Surrey's main hospitals, and staff working with Surrey's schools.

Any carer, of any age, wanting help, advice, or simply emotional support, here in Surrey, can call on 0303 040 1234, or email CarerSupport@actionforcarers.org.uk. Or they can simply and quickly register at www.actionforcarers.org.uk.

#MakeCaringVisibleAndValued
#CarersWeek
#CarersWeek2021