SPONSORED EDITORIAL

It’s Carers Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring.

The nationwide event highlights the challenges that carers face and the vital contribution they make to families and communities throughout the country.

There are now 6.5 million carers in the UK – that’s one in eight adults – but many people still don’t fully understand exactly what a carer is.

A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.

For some, taking on a caring role can be sudden: someone in your family has an accident or your child is born with a disability.

For others, caring creeps up unnoticed: your parents can’t manage on their own any longer or your partner’s health gradually worsens.

The amount and type of support that carers provide varies considerably. It can range from a few hours a week, such as picking up prescriptions and preparing meals, to providing care day and night.

What’s more, carers save the UK economy a staggering £132 billion per year, that’s an average of £19,336 per carer.

Caring will touch each and every one of us in our lifetime, whether we become a carer or need care ourselves.

Whilst caring can be a rewarding experience, it can also have a damaging impact on a person’s health, finances and relationships.

To find out how you can get support in your caring role, visit: www.carersweek.org/support

Facts about carers

• 6.5 million people in the UK are carers; that’s one in eight adults

• By 2037, it is estimated that the number of carers in the UK will rise to 9 million

• Every day another 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility – that equals over 2 million people every year

• 58% of carers are women and 42% are men

• Over 3 million people juggle care with work – however, the significant demands of caring mean that one in five carers are forced to give up work altogether

For legal advice throughout Carers Week or at any time, contact Kent-based company Hatten Wyatt incorporating Morlings