Cares Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

It’s estimated that there are over 18,000 carers in York alone, with around 1,300 under the age of 18. Many carers have been caring for their relatives or friends for a considerable period of time and also have other roles and responsibilities such as employment, education or other caring roles.

This year, the Carers Week campaign focuses on building ‘Carer Friendly Communities. Communities’ which support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own.

Activities happening throughout the week in York include:

Monday 8 June:

York Carers Forum are holding a Carers Services at York Minster at 1.20pm for anyone involved in caring, or those being cared for.

Tuesday 9 June

York Carers Centre will be hosting a stall in the main reception of York District Hospital to raise awareness and hand out information.

Wednesday 10 June

York Carers Centre is inviting carers from across York to meet over lunch, share the problems they face and explore what can be done to make a difference. Leading on from the theme of Carers Week 2015 ‘building carer friendly communities’, carers are being invited to attend Briar House Resources between 1 to 3pm to form a new group – York Carers Action Group – which will regularly meet to help drive change and enable carers voices to be heard amongst key decision makers, especially through City of York Council and the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group.

Please contact Sharron Smith for further details on 01904 715490or email sharron.smith@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk

York Carer Centre’s volunteers will also be leading a newspaper nail art session in Tesco’s community room, Askham Bar between 1.30 to 3.30pm.

Thursday 11 June

A new toolkit for carers in or thinking about getting involved in Higher Education launches at York St. John’s  University. Created by The Carers Trust and National Network of Universities Supporting Young Adult Carers the toolkit is designed to help students with caring responsibilities to access and succeed in HE.

The toolkit highlights the struggles a Young Adult Carer can face and how to best support them so that they can reach their full potential.  A conference for universities and other professionals who work with people in HE will be held at York St Johns University on Thursday to promote the toolkit..

For more information on the University Toolkit please contact Hayley on 01904 715490or email hayley.robson@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk

Staff and volunteers from York Carers Centre will be raising awareness of carers at Sainsbury’s, Monks Cross.

Friday 12 June (National Young Carers Day)

Carers are invited to join York Carers Centre for afternoon tea at the Archbishop’s Palace in Bishopthorpe to celebrate the end of Carers Week. For more information or to book call 01904 715490or email enquiries@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June Young carers and young adult

carers will be bag packing at Sainsbury’s, Monks Cross.

Guy Van Dichele, Interim Director of Adult Social Care, City of York Council, said: “Carers are a vitally important, but often forgotten part of a local community and it’s crucial that we help support them in what can be a difficult and isolating role. I’m particularly looking forward to working with the newly formed York Carers Action Group to see how we can help and support carers in the city.”

For more information on any of the events contact York Carers Centre 01904 715490 or visit http://www.yorkcarerscentre.co.uk/.