Nottingham’s army of unpaid carers get recognition for their role on 10 June at a major event at the Council House as part of National Carers’ Week.

According to the 2001 Census, more than 24,000 Nottingham residents look after family members, friends or neighbours who are either disabled, elderly or frail without payment for their caring role.

The Nottingham event at the Council House pays tribute to the hard work of unpaid carers, gives the latest information about the help that is available to them and focuses particularly on their own health and wellbeing.

It will also publicise a draft Carers Strategy looking at how the City Council will help carers. Proposals include:

an increase in respite care over the next three years to give carers more breaks

training to enable carers to get back into work, particularly those who have been out of work for a long time because of their caring duties

helping carers get increased access to leisure and health services

A new Emergency Card for carers to let a nominated person know the carer is unable to return to the person they care for, and a Carers Information Folder providing information for carers when they need it have already been produced and will be available.

There will also be full details about the latest developments in social care, Direct Payments and Self Directed Support that enable people to get the finances to buy their own care support in ways that suit them.

The Council is currently consulting voluntary sector organisations on the draft that includes more information on being a Young Carer, on dementia care, developing services for carer's who care for someone with mental health and for Black and ethnic minority carers.

Councillor Dave Liversidge, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Adult Services, Housing and Health, said the City Council event for Carers’ Week was to recognise the essential role that carers play.

"We want to do all we can to support the carers of Nottingham for their devotion looking after others, be they husbands or wives, relatives, friends or neighbours. We also want to work closely with the organisation that offer support, advice and services to help carers and whose important contribution we greatly value.

"Carers have a great deal of responsibilities for the person they are caring for which often means they ignore their own health, often feeling they can’t afford to be ill. The emphasis this year is to get carers to look after themselves as well as their loved one."