Lib Dems in West Berks give their support to Carers' Week

3.49.43pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jun 2008

The Liberal Democrats on West Berkshire Council are enthusiastically supporting Carers' Week. This shows to the thousands of local residents who care for dependent relatives and friends that Councillors back the work they do. They help family members and friends and also many carers volunteer to help people they would not otherwise know at all.

Carers Week is a partnership of 10 UK-wide charities (Carers UK, Counsel and Care; Crossroads Caring for Carers, Help the Hospices, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Neurological Alliance, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and WRVS) to promote the unpaid work done by the six million people in the UK who support and care for others.

Carers Week starts on 9th June and runs until 15th June.

"I decided to back Carers' Week as I know how hard many people work to support relatives and friends with illnesses or conditions which make them dependent on others," said Owen Jeffery (Lib Dem spokesman for Community Care on West Berkshire Council).

"One in six people cares in some way for another person. This huge number of people is helping others to live as normal a life as possible at home which maintains their personal dignity and their quality of life. 

"There are many carers who look after someone 24 hours a day and every day of the week. The contribution they make is not always recognised by society generally. By supporting Carers' Week, I hope we can highlight the work carers do, raise awareness amongst the general public and also encourage others to give some of their time as well."