Carers Week takes place from 5 – 11 June and Milton Keynes City Council and local partners Carers MK have been running a series of special events to celebrate the efforts of unpaid carers.
Unpaid carers provide regular care for a friend or family member that cannot cope without their help. This may be due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction. Many of these carers are unaware of the local support available.
Milton Keynes City Council wants more carers to come forward and receive the help they are entitled to. It can give unpaid carers an annual payment of at least £240 (following an assessment) alongside extra assistance that will vary for individuals.
The City Council also funds a dedicated website called Mobilise which has useful practical advice on everything from obtaining a blue badge to managing finances, as well as blogs and guides, and is an online resource for carers to connect with others in the area.
Further help is available from Carers MK, a local organisation funded by the City Council that works with unpaid carers and young carers in Milton Keynes. They provide advice, information, emotional support and workshops and training. GPs can refer anyone aged 8+ who performs a caring role. To learn more, please visit www.carersmiltonkeynes.org.
“Carers often put their loved ones first and may well be suffering from loneliness or poor mental health themselves. Whether you’re looking after a parent or in your eighties supporting a partner, we can help you to find the support that’s right for you. If you’re a carer in MK, you are valued and you are not alone.”
If you are a carer and want more information on the support available, please visit the City Council’s Carers Assessment webpage.
Carers Week is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of caring and recognise the huge contribution that carers make to families and communities across the UK.