Support for Carers Week from Lib Dems at County Hall

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jun 2008

Isabel Hunter, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing on Northumberland County Council, has given her backing to Carers Week, to show support for the thousands of local Northumberland residents who care for dependent relatives and friends.

Carers Week is a partnership of 10 UK-wide charities (Carers UK, Counsel and Care; Crossroads Caring for Carers, Help the Hospices, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Neurological Alliance, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and WRVS) to promote the unpaid work done by the six million people in the UK who support and care for others.

Carers Week starts on 9th June and runs until 15th June.

Supporting Carers Week Isabel said: "I think it is important to back Carers Week as I have seen how hard many people work to support relatives and friends will illnesses or conditions which make them dependent on others.

"One in six people cares in some way for another person. That is a huge army of people who by their efforts help others to live as normal a life as possible at home, rather than being dependent on health services.

"Many carers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and too often, the contribution they make is not recognised by society generally. By supporting Carers Week, I hope to highlight the work carers do and hopefully raise awareness amongst the general public of their importance."