Tag Archives: carersweek

Husband urges Norfolk’s ‘hidden’ army of carers to seek support

Les Eve, Carers UK Ambassador for Carers in Norfolk.

A husband who spent almost 30 years caring for his wife, after she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, has urged the county’s “hidden” unpaid carers to get the support they are entitled to.

Ahead of Carers Week, which starts on Monday, Les Eve said he wanted to get the message out that people looking after loved ones were not alone.

Mr Eve, who set up the Costessey Carers Support Group following his experiences looking after his wife, Shirley, is the Carers UK Ambassador for Carers in Norfolk.

Carers Week 2014: Why Britain’s 6.5 million carers need more support

Millions of Britons are unpaid carers (Picture: Carers UK)

Napoleon famously said Britain was a nation of shopkeepers, but we are quickly becoming a country of carers.

One in eight adults are now carers, looking after a friend or family member who is facing illness, disability or frailty. That means 6.5m people are offering unpaid care to a loved one, often round-the-clock, usually to the detriment of their personal and working lives and sometimes to the detriment of their own health. Unfortunately, campaigners say carers are not getting the support they need to keep looking after the people they love.

Walk to honour Sunderland’s carers

The Mayor of Sunderland Coun. Bob Heron officially starts the Walk in Celebration of Carers at Herrington Country Park, on Friday.

The Mayor of Sunderland Coun. Bob Heron officially starts the Walk in Celebration of Carers at Herrington Country Park, on Friday.

The Mayor of Sunderland Coun. Bob Heron officially starts the Walk in Celebration of Carers at Herrington Country Park, on Friday.

by Sue Kirby
sue.kirby@northeast-press.co.uk

PEOPLE from across Wearside took a walk in the park in honour of carers.

Herrington Country Park hosted The Walk in Celebration of Carers, which was officially started by the Mayor of Sunderland Councillor Bob Heron.

People with learning disabilities and carers walked a one-mile route to recognise and celebrate the important role played by the 32,500 carers across Sunderland, who look after ill and disabled family members or friends.

The walk was organised by Washington Multi-Purpose Centre, part of Sunderland City Council’s Health, Housing and Adult Services, to link in with National Carers Week, and was supported by Sunderland Carers’ Centre and Asda.

Coun Heron said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be part of this celebration of caring in Sunderland.

“Caring can be anything from a full-time commitment to spending a couple of hours a week looking after others, helping them have a better quality of life.