Council celebrates Carers Week 2024 with over 35 activities for carers

Shropshire Council’s carers support team has organised a range of events and competitions to recognise and support unpaid and family carers in the community.

Shropshire Council is inviting carers to join in the celebrations of Carers Week 2024, an annual campaign to raise awareness of unpaid carers, and to help people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

Carers Week 2024

From Sunday 9 June to Sunday 16 June 2024 the council’s carers support team has organised over 35 activities across Shropshire, including canal trips, garden and museum visits, walks and talks, music and craft sessions, National Trust visits, complementary refreshments, and much more.

The activities are designed to offer carers a break from their caring role, to enjoy the beauty of the Shropshire countryside, to connect with other carers and to have some fun and relaxation.

In addition to the activities, there will also be competitions with some fantastic prizes to be won, such as tickets for Theatre Severn (council-run venue in Shrewsbury), Festival Drayton cinema, Shrewsbury Town FC, Ludlow Farm Shop, and a hamper from Ludlow Farm Shop. The competitions are open to all carers who are registered with the council’s carers support team.

Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said:-

“Carers Week is a chance to express our gratitude to all our unpaid and family carers in Shropshire.

”The theme for Carers Week this year is ‘Putting carers on the map’. We fully appreciate the important support you offer to others, and we want to make sure you are acknowledged and assisted. It’s essential that we put carers on the map and highlight the great contribution they make.

”Our Shropshire carers support team have prepared a fantastic range of activities over the week throughout Shropshire.

“I urge all of you to come and join us and I’m sure you will find something that appeals to you and we look forward to seeing you during the fun-filled week.

Margarete Davies, carer lead and manager of Shropshire Carers, added:-

“Caring for someone else can feel rewarding but it can also be tiring, frustrating, lonely, and isolating, and without people identifying as a carer and receiving information and help at an early stage, it can lead to carers own health and wellbeing being affected.

It is vitally important that carers remember to take care of themselves too which is why raising awareness by  ‘Putting Carers on the Map’ – is so important.

“This is why we want to help and Shropshire Carers support team are delighted to present our Carers Week 2024 events programme to you.

”We really want to reach out to carers to encourage them to take some time out and take part in our activities and reconnect with nature. Join us in the natural settings of Shropshire, where we can appreciate the beauty of our countryside together.Or you may prefer to come to one of our crafting or music activities or maybe join us on a rail trip on the Cambrian Railway.

“Whether you want to enjoy a garden walk or join other activities, or maybe do a bit of both, we hope you will find something that suits you, and look forward to seeing you during the week.

“It is our small way to say ‘thank you’ for all that you do, with so many activities dedicated to carers, we hope you will find something that you like.

“We would also like to say thank you to the many contributors to the programme – donating fabulous prizes or activities that we hope carers will enjoy.”

Activity progamme

Find out what activities are on during the fortnight at: https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-choices/shropshire-choices-events/carers-week-9-16-june-2024/

To book a place on any of the activities on the programme, please email: shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 341995.

Competition time!

Take part in one of our many competitions at: https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/media/27866/carers-week-programme-of-activities-2024-final.pdf

To find more about Carers Week visit https://www.carersweek.org/

If you’re a young carer and require advice and support contact our Shropshire Young Carer Support service at – youngcarers@shropshire.gov.uk call 01743 341995.

Further information

• Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring and help people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to provide support for carers, run activities and highlight the vital role carers play in our communities.
• A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness, substance misuse issue, or who needs extra help as they grow older.
• For some, taking on a caring role can be sudden: someone in your family has an accident or your child is born with a disability. For others, caring responsibilities can grow gradually over time: your parents can’t manage on their own any longer or your partner’s mental or physical health gradually worsens.
• The amount and type of support that carers provide varies considerably. It can range from a few hours a week, such as picking up prescriptions and preparing meals, to providing emotional support or personal care day and night.
• Caring will touch each and every one of us in our lifetime, whether we become a carer or need care ourselves. Whilst caring can be a rewarding experience, it can also have a huge impact on a person’s health, finances and relationships.
• Shropshire Council’s carers support team provides information, advice and support adult carers of adults and young carers across Shropshire. The team can be contacted by email at shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk or by phone on 01743 341995.
• Thank you to all the contributors to Carers Week in Shropshire: National Garden Scheme, National Trust, Market Drayton Rotary Club, Whitchurch Rotary Club, Mobilise, Ludlow Farm Shop, Fordhall Farm, Cavalier Centre, The Drum Coach, Jenna Blair Yoga, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Shrewsbury Town FC, Shrewsbury Town Community, Pontesbury Pavilion, Adrian Plant Musician, Cambrian Heritage Railways, Hodnet Hall Gardens, Shropshire Museums, Royal Airforce Museum, OsNosh, Oswestry, Theatre Severn, Ludlow Brewing Company.