13/06/2013 - Permalink

Get ‘Carer Aware’ this Carers Week

Related topics: Community / Health

Shropshire Council is raising awareness of the role of unpaid carers and the support available to them as the nation marks Carers Week.

Carers Week 2013, which takes place from Monday 10 June to Sunday 16 June, aims to improve the lives of carers and the people they care for. As part of this ongoing work in Shropshire, the Carer Aware online training course has been launched this week on the council website.

The course helps carers, people who work with carers, or anyone who is interested in learning more, to find out:

• Who is a carer

• What their rights are

• What support is available

• Where to find further information

To do the course, which takes less than an hour, go to shropshire.gov.uk/carer-aware-course

Councillor Tim Barker, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, said:

“Carers provide an invaluable role in our community, helping family members or friends who are ill, disabled, frail or elderly and can’t manage without their support, to remain independent and in their own homes.

“We want carers to be recognised for the positive contribution that they make and to know about the support they are entitled to. We are continually looking to develop the services provided to carers and can help with financial support (the carers direct payment), access to training, taking a break from their caring role, leisure opportunities, and support to return to, or remain in work.

“We know that more people could benefit from the support available but may not even realise they are a carer. This new course provides another opportunity to identify and help as many carers as possible.

“We hope that, alongside Carers Week, it helps to raise awareness and that people find it useful.”

According to the 2011 Census, more than 34,000 Shropshire residents provide some unpaid care for an ill or disabled person.

Further information

For more information about the support available to carers please click here or call 0345 678 9005.

For further details about Carers Week go www.carersweek.org