Local MP Gavin Newlands pledges support to help create Carer Friendly Communites in Renfrewshire for
Gavin Newlands MP today pledged his support to carers across Renfrewshire as part of the national Carers Week 2016 awareness campaign, which runs from 6-12th June.
There are 6.5 million people in the UK who care for a partner, relative or friend, of which 9,281 carers are in Paisley and Renfrewshire North.
The seven charities driving Carers Week 2016 are calling on individuals, organisations and services throughout the country to improve the lives of carers by building ‘Carer Friendly Communities’ – encouraging all parts of the community to think about carers and do things differently to support them.
The call comes after research for Carers Week revealed that a combination of inadequate support from local services and a lack of understanding about caring from wider society is having a negative impact on carers’ health, wellbeing, relationships and finances [1].
Gavin spoke in a debate in Westminster on Thursday (9th of June) and forcefully called for more support to be offered to carers.
Every month, Gavin holds a Carers Surgery which provides an opportunity for local carers to raise any issue with him and to seek assistance.
Local MP, Gavin Newlands said:
“Carers make a huge contribution to our society, providing vital and often hidden support to friends and family members. That is why I am supporting Carers Week 2016 and encouraging services across Renfrewshire to think about what more they can do to help meet the needs of carers and make our communities more Carer Friendly.”
Emily Holzhausen, who leads the Carers Week partnership, said:
“With an ever increasing number of families taking on caring roles for older, ill or disabled loved ones, it is great to see MPs showing their support for carers.
While carers have told us that it makes a huge difference when they are recognised and supported by their local services and communities, too many carers tell us they struggling to balance caring with other areas of their lives. By working together during Carers Week we have a huge opportunity to make our communities more Carer Friendly and make a difference to those who contribute so much”.
Carers Week is made possible by Carers UK joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Motor Neurone Disease Association and MS Society.
Thousands of events are taking place across the country this week, and thousands of people have already pledged their support for carers online. To find out more about events in [insert area] visit www.carersweek.org
