City Council Event Offers Support During Carers Week
12 June 2012
City carers will be able to get support and advice about
benefits available to them at a Peterborough City Council
information stand in Bridge Street, Peterborough, on Tuesday 19
June 2012 from 10am until 3pm.
Staff from the city council's carers team will be on the stand,
situated in front of the Visitor Information Centre, to talk to
carers and people who want a better understanding of what qualifies
a person as being a carer. The event will be supported by partner
organisations including: Cross Keys Homes,
NHS Peterborough, Macmillan Care,
Peterborough Council for Voluntary
Service, Rethink Mental Illness, Headway and Family Voice Peterborough.
The event will mark the UK launch of Carers Week (18 to 24 June)
when the country's six million unpaid carers are celebrated and
recognised for the contribution they make to those they care for,
and to their communities in providing unpaid care for someone who
is ill, frail or disabled.
This year's theme is 'In Sickness and in Health', which calls
for greater support for unpaid carers to help them continue in
their caring role without facing ill health, stress or financial
worry.
Hedda Lilley, Project Manager - Carers, at Peterborough City
Council, said: "Many carers in Peterborough suffer due to a lack of
understanding about what they do and some do not even recognise
themselves as carers. This has a negative impact on their health,
finances, working and social life and general wellbeing. Our
information stand is one of many activities and services that
Peterborough City Council provides to support carers who feel
isolated."
Carers Week is supported by many famous celebrities with caring
experience, including British actor, Lynda Bellingham. She says:
"Sometimes the role of a carer can be a very hard and lonely one
and Carers Week is a time when hopefully a carer does not feel
quite so alone. It is also a time to pass on information and
contacts to try to help with different circumstances. It is a week
to answer questions about finances, respite and health care
issues."
Other celebrities supporting this campaign include Dame Judi
Dench, Angela Rippon, Jack Charlton and Martin Lewis. Carers Week
is organised by a partnership of nine national charities: Age UK, Carers UK, Crossroads Care, Dementia UK, Macmillan Cancer
Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care,
MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, and The Princess Royal Trust for
Carers.
For more information about the carers information stand,
telephone Hedda Lilley (01733) 758578 or email hedda.lilley@peterborough.gov.uk
Ends.
Media contact: Pep Cipriano, SaferPeterborough
Communications Manager- telephone 01733 452551 or email pep.cipriano@peterborough.gov.uk