Carers Week

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.

The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to provide support for carers, run activities, highlight the vital role carers play in our communities and draw attention to just how important caring is.

Activities in Leicestershire as part of carers week:

VASL Support for Carers Week event- including laughter yoga, stallholders, complimentary buffet. More information on the carers week website.

Employers:

This Carers Week, we are asking employers to raise awareness of caring and to recognise any unpaid carers in their workforce. There are some simple steps that employers can take to reduce carers' feelings of isolation and ensure that people are able to balance work with their caring responsibilities:

• Use Carers Week to connect working carers to support available in the workplace and externally. Just talking about caring can help.
• Introduce and promote flexible working policies.
• Introduce paid carer's leave so that carers are not forced to take annual leave for caring emergencies
• Set up or encourage staff to set up a carers' staff network to connect carers to each other.
• Join the Employers for Carers forum and raise awareness of caring throughout your organisation. Visit Employers for Carers website or for employers in Scotland visit Carer Positive