Carer support charities across Cumbria are celebrating Carers Week, recognising and celebrating over 44,800 unpaid carers in the county.
The annual campaign, which runs until June 15, aims to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contributions they make to families and their communities.
The theme for Carers Week 2025 is caring about equality.
Carer Support South Lakes kicked off Carers Week with the K2K Challenge, with more than 70 walkers taking part in a 30-mile walk from Keswick to Kendal.
CEO of Carer Support South Lakes, Debi Marsden, said: “This annual sponsored walk was co-organised by volunteer Stuart Graves, a founder member of our male carers group.
‘Hosting this event at the start of Carers Week and end of Volunteers Week helps raise awareness of the work unpaid carers do, and the importance of our volunteers, alongside raising funds for our charity to support unpaid carers.
“Carers Week is a national event to recognise and celebrate the UK’s six million-plus unpaid family and friend carers. The theme of caring about equality focuses on the inequalities faced by unpaid carers and highlights the challenges and disadvantages experienced by carers, including a higher risk of poverty, social isolation and poor mental and physical health.
“Carer Support Cumbria work with Carer Support South Lakes, Carlisle & Eden, Furness and West Cumbria to support unpaid Carers from as young as five years old upwards.”
To find out more about support for unpaid carers in your area and more details of the Carers’ Week events, contact your local organisations by visiting the Carer Support Cumbria website at www.carerssupportcumbria.co.uk or call 08443 843230.
