Carers Week takes place from 5 to 11 June and is a national event designed to raise the profile of carers and to encourage carers to access support if needed.

In Warrington, carers have access to support from the Warrington Carers Hub. There are also a number of people across the town who may not be aware they are fulfilling the role of a carer or the support they can access, these people are known as ‘hidden carers’.

What is a hidden carer?

A person with caring responsibilities may identify with one of the following groups:

• Young carers – those aged 18 and under who support a family member
• Parent carers – those with a child who has care needs
• Adult carers – those who are over 18 and caring for a partner, an older family member, neighbour or friend

Cllr Paul Warburton, cabinet member for statutory health and adult social care, said: “Unpaid carers provide valuable support for the people they care for, but it is important that carers access the support available as it can place a huge impact on their physical and mental health.

“Hidden carers often don’t realise that they are a carer, and many feel they are simply doing the right thing or just helping out a friend, neighbour or family member. However, the role of a carer is challenging and can place strain on the carer, so it is important that those in carer roles access support and breaks from their caring role when needed.”

Warrington Carers Hub

Warrington Carers Hub provides a single point of access for unpaid carers who provide care to a friend, family member or neighbour living in Warrington. It provides support services to help carers continue in their caring role for as long as they choose, and works to reduce the impact that a caring role can place a carer’s own health and wellbeing.

The Carers Hub is hosting a week of activity to mark Carers Week. During the week, support officers from the hub will be basing themselves at the Centre for Independent Leaving (Beaufort Street, WA5 1BA), if you would like to pop by for a chat.

The hub is also launching its Carers Breakfast Club on Tuesday 6 June, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. It will then take place every third Tuesday of the month in the Galleries Café at the Centre of Independent Living. Carers can also bring the person they care for to these sessions. To book onto the Breakfast Club, email anna.zammit@warringtoncarershub.org.uk.

A place to talk this Carers Week

To recognise Carers Week, Talking Points, which take place at venues across Warrington, will be hosting a number of drop-in sessions jointly with Warrington Carers Hub.

Talking Points are a friendly, safe place for Warrington residents to go to access face-to-face guidance, support and information. The Talking Point team includes people and representatives from a number of different organisations, so whatever you need support with, the Talking Point team are there to help.

The Warrington Carers Hub will be attending the following sessions next week:

• the GATEWAY, Sankey Street, WA1 1SR – Tuesday 6 June, 10am-12noon
• The Oaks Centre, Stocks Lane, Penketh, WA5 2QS – Tuesday 6 June, 12.30pm-2.30pm
• Burtonwood Library, Chapel Lane, WA5 4PS – Wednesday 7 June, 3pm-5pm
• The Encounter Centre, Birchwood, WA3 7PQ – Thursday 8 June, 10am-12pm

There are also a number of coffee and chat events taking place across the town. For the full activity timetable, visit Warrington Carers Hub website. If you require any further information, contact the hub at Hub at enquiries@warringtoncarershub.org.uk.

If you are a carer of any age and would like support, it could be that you just need a person to speak to, contact the hub via email or by calling 0300 303 0623. For more information about Warrington Carers Hub, visit the Warrington Carers Hub website.