Unpaid Carers Save the Government £119 Billion A Year

UNPAID CARERS SAVE THE GOVERNMENT A STAGGERING £119 BILLION A YEAR!

By Rehana Sidat:

Carers’ Week – 13th to 19th June

National Carers Week is held annually to recognise carers. In Leicester and
Leicestershire during Carers Week charities such as Ansaar and Clasp The Carers
Centre are holding activities and events across the city and county to promote the
huge difference and contribution unpaid carers who are usually family, friends,
neighbours and volunteers make. The aim is also to increase awareness about the need
for access to better support and services and to identify ‘hidden carers’. Many
carers do not identify themselves as carers, they just see it as a part of their
duty as a partner, friend or parent.
The University of Leeds and Carers UK recently carried out research and published
the paper “Valuing Carers 2011 – Calculating the value of carers’ support “
which found the economic value of the contribution made by carers in the UK is a
remarkable £119 billion per year. £119 billion is considerably more than the
annual cost of all aspects of the NHS – £98.8 billion – in the year 2009-2010.
The paper also states “There are over six million carers, family, friends and
neighbours who provide unpaid care to someone who is ill, frail or disabled. The
care they provide to help sustain people in their own homes and in their own
communities is vital. Without it, society would collapse.”
Many Carers receive no support until they hit breaking point due to the stress of
caring or are faced with a crisis. There are concerns how the proposed cuts will
affect prevention and support services for carers and the persons they care for.
Carers Week events
A drop in relaxation event has been organised by Ansaar and Highfields library on
16th June from 11.00am till 2.00pm at the Highfields library.
Clasp the Carers Centre have a number of events across the city and county during
including:
Clasp’s Get Creative day at the Lord Mayor’s Tea Rooms, Leicester City Town Hall
on the 13th June from 10.30am till 3.00pm
Carers Cuppa at John Storer House, Loughborough on the 13th June from 10.00am till
12.00pm.
Stress & relaxation training session at Marlene Reid Centre, Coalville on the 13th
June from 10.00 am till 12.00pm.
For more information on these and more events in Leicester and Leicestershire visit
www.claspthecarerscentre.org.uk or www.carersweek.org

Notes
Ansaar is a registered charity set up in 2003 that works with people with learning
disabilities and carers in Leicester to improve choice, opportunities and support.

CLASP The Carers Centre is a registered charity which was set up in 1994 to provide
a wide range of support services for carers living in Leicester, Leicestershire and
Rutland

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