From 10 to 16 June, we celebrated Carers Week to highlight the importance of Glasgow’s unpaid carers.

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. This year’s theme for Carers Week was ‘Putting Carers on the Map’, aiming at increasing visibility for carers with decision makers, services, employers, communities and businesses.

Millions of people across the UK care, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health condition or addiction cannot cope without their support.

Having a week dedicated to unpaid carers was an opportunity for our Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to engage with both staff and the public to ensure that people who care for others know about the help and support that’s available to them.

In Glasgow, our Local Carers Centres raised awareness and organised activities for people who provide everyday unpaid support to friends, family and neighbours who can’t manage otherwise.

The Glasgow South Carers Centre hosted celebratory events for the carers they support. This included a carers luncheon, afternoon wellbeing sessions throughout the week, health walks and much more.

In the north east of the city, the Glasgow North East Carers Centre put together weeklong celebrations. The team organised a day out at Glasgow Cathedral, a workshop at Mackintosh at the Willow followed by cake and coffee, mindful walks and a yoga session.

To further mark Carers Week, our HSCP Carers Lead visited the Day Care Centre at Meadowburn Residential Care Home to highlight the positive impact that Day Care can provide unpaid carers. A day care service user said: “The thing I like most about day care was the company and giving my family a break. My family have seen a big change in me since I started coming to day care.”

Fred Beckett, Carers Lead for our HSCP recognised the invaluable contribution of unpaid carers in Glasgow all year round. Fred said: “Carers Week is such an important time for all the carers in Glasgow to be recognised for all that they do every single day. If you’re caring for someone, remember that you’re not alone and our carers centres are there to support you. Get in contact with your local carer centre for more information or self-refer yourself by using the information below. There’s help out there for you so please reach out.”

If you want to know more about information and supports available to carers looking after someone in Glasgow, or want to help make Glasgow a carer friendly city, please visit www.yoursupportglasgow.org/carers.