Carers week is an opportunity to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and acknowledge the contribution they make to society.

A carer is anyone who looks after a family member, partner, neighbour or friend because of their illness, frailty, disability, mental health, substance misuse or learning disability. While a young carer is anyone under the age of 18 whose life is restricted in some ways due to the care they offer their loved ones.

Carers face challenges which impact on their finances, employment, health and wellbeing. Carers awareness helps people with caring responsibilities who do not think of themselves as carers to identify as one and access much-needed support.

The theme for 2024 carers week is ‘Putting Carers on the Map.’ This theme aims to raise wider awareness and recognition of the challenges unpaid carers face and help them access the support they deserve.

We always encourage carers to prioritise time for self-care and looking after themselves because caring can be overwhelming and isolating. It can impact massively on quality-of-life, so it’s important to identify as an unpaid carer with your GP and request a carers assessment.

The UHS Carers Support Service is funded and operated by Southampton Hospitals Charity. The support we provide include the following:

Emotional support to carers by telephone or in person
Referrals for carers assessment
Signposting to other support services in the community
Advocating for carers involvement in decision making in line with the Health and Care Act 2022
Mediating in complex discharge situations
We support carers through complaint processes.

You can refer a carer to us by sending an email to hello@southamptonhospitalscharity.org

Carers Week 2024 reflections from Gloria Ede