This Carers Week, Carers Network is highlighting the vital contribution of unpaid carers.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

This year, Carers Week takes place from 10-16 June, and local charity Carers Network will host a full schedule of activities for unpaid carers in the City of Westminster, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Millions of people across the UK provide unpaid care for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, mental health conditions, or addiction, cannot manage without their support.
It is estimated that these carers save the economy £162 billion annually, equivalent to the cost of a second NHS. Yet, many carers feel their contributions are overlooked and their roles invisible. 60% of carers surveyed by Carers UK stated that being valued as a carer would improve their wellbeing.

These are carers like Carmel, who has been looking after her mum first, and now her brother, for nearly 10 years.
“In 2016 my mother had a stroke and so my life changed overnight and I became her carer. I cared for my mum for 6 and a half years before she passed away.”

During the pandemic, her brother became really ill, and was taken to hospital. After this, she started to care for him too.

Carmel faced numerous challenges while taking care of two people completely by herself, including being told that they couldn’t stay in their home. “Carers Network really helped me at this difficult time. One of their advisers helped me to get the support I needed.”

Before contacting Carers Network, Carmel felt that her role as a carer didn’t get the recognition that it deserved and that she was being left alone. “When I was going through that situation with my home, I didn’t have any recognition. Having that kind of anxiety about your home, when you’re already caring for someone who’s not very well, is not funny.”

The stress and isolation of her caring role left her feeling overwhelmed, with no time to grieve for her mum who had just passed away. But she found relief and a new creative outlet when she got some theatre tickets through Carers Network. “It was brilliant, because when you’re going through all those things, your brain just needs to switch off.”

Thanks to Carers Network, Carmel also took part in a project in partnership with the Bush Theatre. “It was amazing! I really believe in the arts being able to heal people by telling their stories. I met the most amazing and lovely bunch of people, and I saw all of us grow through it.”

Carmel admits that she was lucky to take part in this project, as her caring role is not as demanding now. “When I looked after my mum I couldn’t have done this. I had to be with her 24/7 and I just couldn’t get a break. So after 6 and a half years of not doing anything, taking part in this project was amazing.”

With the support that they provide to carers like Carmel, Carers Network makes sure that carers in the community are recognised and supported, not just during Carers Week, but throughout the whole year.