Gloucestershire carers' celebration (From Gazette Series)

Gloucestershire carers' celebration

CARERS in Gloucestershire have just been celebrating Carers' Week.

There are around 57,000 carers in Gloucestershire, many of them putting in more than 50 hours a week, caring for sick of elderly partners, children, parents, siblings and friends.

This Carers' Week Gloucestershire County Council gave them the chance to take a well-earned break. The council has joined forces with carers' organisations, including Carers Gloucestershire, Crossroads Caring for Carers schemes, Careshare and Lifestyles Buddying Schemes, who have hosted coffee and pampering mornings for carers across the county.

The theme for this year's Carers' Week has been health: two-thirds of people who care for more than 50 hours a week say their own health has been affected by caring.

It has been estimated the UK's six million carers currently save the Exchequer £57 billion every year but their own health is suffering.

Carers Week manager Paul Matz said: "The NHS should invest a little now in helping carers look after their health rather than risk them not being well enough to care."

A range of health and beauty treatments has been available at the coffee mornings.

Basic health checks and a wide range of information has also been provided.

Tim Poole, chief executive of Carers Gloucestershire, said: "Everyone with caring responsibilities is welcome at our events.

"People benefit from meeting other people in similar situations, and we can give them details about the local support and services available to them."

For more information about Caring for Carers people can contact Myrtle Moreton-Cox on 01453 755999.