Mike Hancock News
In Carer's Week, MP calls for more Government support for carers
Mike Hancock is backing this year's Carers Week (8-14 June) in support of carers in Portsmouth, who are among the six million people in the UK who provide unpaid care for a loved one who is ill, frail or disabled. The MP is also calling for more support for carers from the Government.
Mike's support comes as new research reveals that almost three-quarters (74%) of carers have reached breaking point due to the pressures of their role. The results show that the strain of caring is causing some carers such extreme levels of stress and depression that they are suffering breakdowns and, in some cases, even attempting suicide.
The Carers Week survey has also highlighted that that the vast majority of carers feel their role is overlooked or ignored by professionals (87%), friends (78%) and family members (76%). Almost two-thirds (63%) say that their lives are made ‘much more difficult' as a result, with more than half saying that it has affected their health and left them worse off financially.
Mike Hancock has joined the call for carers to receive more recognition and support. He said: "There are thousands of carers in Portsmouth who in order to care for a loved one often have to make sacrifices in terms of their health, work and their social life and I thank them for the priceless contribution that they make in doing that both to their local communities and to society in general. However caring can be demanding and difficult, so I hope that carers will find out about the support that they can which might be of help. And it is also clear from these survey results, that the Government also needs to give carers more financial and practical support so that they can cope better. And I will be pressing the Government to do that."
Also supporting this year's Carers Week is Sir Geoff Hurst, England footballer and World Cup hero. Sir Geoff, who has cared for his wife, says: "Those who care for family and friends mostly do so under the radar, without pay or acknowledgement, and deserve to be recognised for their dedication to the people they care for, not just during Carers Week but for all the weeks of the year. Carers face physical and mental challenges every day and should be more visibly supported and appreciated for the generous and loving hard work that they do."
Carers can find out more about local events and activities taking place as part of Carers Week, by visiting www.carersweek.org or calling 0845 241 2582.
Notes:
1. 1,941 carers took part in the survey, both online and by post, which was carried out by Carers Week between 22 January - 25 March 2009. For more information about the survey results contact Sushila Snell, Carers Week Media Officer, 020 7378 4958 or 07900 605770, sushila.snell@carersuk.org
2. Carers needing support and advice can find out about local organisations and learn what is happening in their area during Carers Week by visiting www.carersweek.org or calling 0845 241 2582.
3. Carers Week 2009 takes place from 8-14 June, and highlights the vital work carried out by those who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.
4. Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 10 UK charities: Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Help the Hospices, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Parkinson's Disease Society, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Vitalise and
WRVS.
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