MP calls for greater recognition for UK carers

MP calls for greater recognition for UK carers

8:00pm Saturday 21st May 2011

Tiverton MP Neil Parish has teamed up with TV presenter Angela Rippon to support this year’s Carers Week.

The week, which runs from June 13 to 19, recognises the contribution made by those people in Devon and throughout the UK who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.

Mr Neil met up with Angela at the House of Commons to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles.

He said: “Thousands of people in Tiverton and Honiton sacrifice not only their time, but also their money and their health in order to care for a loved one.

“Together they save this country an astonishing £119 billion.

“They deserve to be recognised for their contribution to both our local community and to wider society.

“I am taking part in Carers Week to show my respect and appreciation for our carers.

“I also want to let them know that there are services out there to help them. Caring can be so incredibly demanding. It’s important that carers know that they don’t have to struggle on alone.”

Angela Rippon has personal experience of being a carer. She said: “For a number of years now I’ve become aware of the extraordinary job that carers do throughout this country.

“I feel that it’s important that anybody who has any knowledge at all stands up and be counted for them and make the job that they do public, because they should not be invisible, they should be out there and being seen as the heroes and heroines that they are.

“It’s a strain that people accept willingly and lovingly, and if they’re prepared to do that, I think that as a civilised nation we should be prepared to do something in return.”

Other celebrities supporting carers and Carers Week include Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Jason, Jack Charlton and Martin Lewis.

http://www.middevonstar.co.uk/news/9040778.MP_calls_for_greater_recognition_for_UK_carers/