Monday 18th June marks the beginning of Carers Week, an annual awareness campaign that celebrates the six million unpaid carers in the UK. It recognises the contribution they make to those they care for and to their communities.
The campaign is a partnership of eight national charities. If you would like to show your support by making a donation, or by setting up a regular Direct Debit to one of the charities, here’s some more information about who’s involved and how you can donate.
Age UK
Age UK aims to improve later life for everyone. The charity offers an advice line that is available 365 days a year. They also assist older people wishing to remain at home, providing them with things like home aids, starlifts and personal alarms.
Age UK also fund research into later life. The research funded by the charity has seen significant breakthroughs in dementia, fall preventions, strokes and incontinence.
Carers UK
Carers UK help the millions of people in the UK that care for family and friends. They provide practical information and advice alongside emotional support for carers.
The charity campaigns to make life better for carers, influencing policy makers, employers and service providers.
Carers Trust
Carers Trust works to improve support, services and recognition for unpaid carers that are supporting a relative or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or with mental health or addiction problems.
Together with Network Partners, they provide access to desperately-needed breaks, information and advice, education, training and employment opportunities for carers.
Independent Age
Independent Age provides lifelong friendship, practical help and financial support to older people on very low incomes.
The charity provides information and advice on social care, welfare benefits and support services for older people, their families and carers.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan provide practical, medical and financial support for people living with cancer.
They fund nurses and specialist health care professionals. The charity also provides practical support in the home, emotional support and advise through their cancer support specialists, website and trained professionals. They also help with the extra costs of living with cancer, giving benefit advice and grants for anything from heating bills to travel costs.
Donate to Macmillan Cancer Support
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care provide end of life care to terminally ill patients in the patient’s own home, or in one of the charity’s nine hospices.
Over the year, their network of 2,000 Marie Curie nurses provide 1.2 million hours of home care to over 23,406 patients. The charity’s nine hospices provide expert care and the best quality of life for people with cancers and other illnesses. They are the biggest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
Donate to Marie Curie Cancer Care
Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society)
The MS Society fund research into MS, making sure that people with MS have the treatments and services they need.
They provide financial help for people affected by MS, giving 2,000 grants a year to help with items needed as a result of MS. These include home and car adaptations, mobility aids, wheelchairs and other specialised equipment.
Parkinson’s UK
Parkinson’s UK is a support and research charity. They provide information and support through a UK-wide team of workers, a confidential helpline and various publications. They also offer education and training to health and social care professionals, helping to improve the services for people affected by Parkinson’s.
The charity funds research that advances our understanding of Parkinson’s. The research also improves treatments to make like easier for people that are living with Parkinson’s.
Tags: age uk, carers trust, Carers UK, carers week, independent age, macmillan cancer support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Multiple sclerosis society, Parkinson's UK