Carers Week 2021

Carers Week 2021 – Carers Week is an annual awareness campaign that celebrates and recognises the vital contribution of the UK’s unpaid carers – supporting family members and friends who are older, have a disability, mental or physical illness or need extra help as they grow older.

During Carers Week 2021 One You Hounslow is inviting health and care services, schools, employers and businesses across the community to recognise the vital contribution made by unpaid carers in Hounslow.

Are you a carer?

Are you helping a relative or friend with medication, food, money, care or their mental health?

Being a carer isn’t someone who volunteers or is employed to provide support.

You may not consider yourself as a ‘carer’ but understanding your caring responsibilities and the impact it has on your life is important so that you can get the right help and support.

It could be round-the-clock care or a few hours a week, perhaps you live together or are miles apart.

From helping someone get dressed or get out of bed, to managing their medication and dealing with professionals – each caring role is unique. It could also be help with cooking, housework and money, or being a listening ear and keeping someone entertained.

Across the UK today 6.5 million people are unpaid carers, supporting someone who is older, disabled or seriously ill.

That’s 1 in 8 adults who care, unpaid, for family and friends. In Hounslow there are over 22,000 carers.

Making Caring Visible and Valued

For Carers Week 2021 charity Carers UK is joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Oxfam GB and Rethink Mental Illness to help raise awareness of caring around the country.

The six charities driving Carers Week 2021 are calling on individuals, services and organisations to do their part in Making Caring Visible and Valued – recognising the contribution made by carers and helping them get the practical, financial and emotional support they need to care for a loved one.

Events in Hounslow for Carers Week

In celebration of Carers Week this week, Hounslow Council have arranged a programme of free online and face-to-face activities, ranging from workshops on food and mental health, speaking to professionals with confidence and ‘ask your local hospital’ Q&A, to ‘Creative Arts’ and ‘Wellbeing and Relaxation’ open days for unpaid carers.

Visit: Carers Week 2021 (7 to 13 June) – CarePlace  to see the full programme of events.

Beyond carers week, the council is launching a new events page that pulls together things that are happening across the borough for people who have caring responsibilities. From meeting people in a similar situation to hearing from experts, there is something for everyone. Visit Carers Events to find out more.

Local support to a healthier you

If you would like to contact One You Hounslow about how you can make changes towards a healthier lifestyle then you can either register on our website, e-mail us: oneyou.hounslow@nhs.net or you can call us: 020 8973 3530