WORK UNDERTAKEN BY Moray’s army of unpaid carers will be celebrated next week during National Carers’ Week.
Run under the theme ‘Building Carer-Friendly Communities’, the week provides an opportunity to note the major role played by these unsung heroes.
In Moray a busy celebration programme will feature the launch of Moray’s final draft of the carers’ strategy “Carry on Caring”, whereby carers will have an opportunity to have valuable input. The draft strategy will be available on the Moray Council website while more information can be obtained by contacting involvement@moray.gov.uk.
Carers and those they are caring for are also being invited to a free day of entertainment, chat, information and advice – with a buffet lunch thrown in – in the Alexander Graham Bell Centre at Moray College in Elgin on Thursday, June 9 from 9.30am to 2pm.
The Carry on Caring launch will begin the day, which will then move onto fun and games with attendees splitting into teams to take part in a quiz with prizes. They will then have an opportunity to take part in various games, ending the day with a buffet lunch.
The Carer Service Provident Network (CSPN) are also holding a breakfast briefing at the Alexander Graham Bell Centre from 8.30am to 9.30am the same day where local organisations and businesses can drop in for a bacon roll and find out how they can support carers.
Each of the individual organisations that form the CSPN is also marking Carers Week in their own way.
Quarriers are holding various carers’ cafes across Moray, HealthPoint are holding a health and wellbeing advice and information event and Advocacy North East are holding a carers’ advocacy advice and information event. More information on these can be obtained by emailing SDSResidential@moray.gov.uk.
Every day 6,000 people in the UK take on new caring responsibilities. Carers’ Strategy Officer at the Moray Health and Social Care Strategy Partnership, Aimee Borzoni, said: “Becoming a carer can impact significantly on a person’s life.
“It takes time, energy, can leave you isolated and can be costly. It is important people who are already caring and those who are new to caring make sure they are accessing all the practical and emotional support they need to care safely as well as look after themselves.”
Recognising the role of carers and supporting them is a national and local priority but many carers still see themselves as simply looking after someone. These ‘hidden’ carers often only become known at times of crisis and are missing out on services to support them.
To help with catering arrangements, places at the Carers Celebration should be booked by calling Moray Council on 01343 567153 or by emailing as above.