Launch of Carers Week 2013

A week long campaign aimed at raising awareness of carers and celebrating their hard work has kicked off today.

The theme of this year’s Carers Week 2013, which runs until Sunday, is ‘Prepared to Care?’ and will focus on how the UK’s growing unpaid carers population is coping and how effectively they are being supported by the Government.

Hundreds of fundraising and awareness events will take place across the country this week, including a special Question Time event in Westminster on Wednesday night from 6pm until 8pm. ‘Prepared to Care? How the NHS and Social Care can support carers’ will be chaired by David Brindle, who is The Guardian’s Public Services editor. The panel, made up of care and support minister Norman Lamb, carer Vanessa Matthews and others, will explore how society can support carers as the demand for services increases. Members of the public will be able to join in the discussion and ask questions on Twitter by tweeting @careersweek and using the hashtag #carersweekqt.

Carers Week 2013 is being delivered by a partnership of a number of charities, including Age UK, Carers Trust and Carers UK.

To find out more about the campaign and events taking place near you, visit www.carersweek.org.