A SERIES of events are to take place in West Dunbartonshire to mark this year’s annual Carers Week.

The week, which runs from June 7 to June 13, aims to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

This year, the focus is on making caring visible and valued.

To mark the annual week, Carers of West Dunbartonshire will host a series of events for its registered carers.

A craft session will take place on Thursday from 6pm until 8.30pm on Zoom and a dance class, hosted by Clifftop Projects, will be put on Friday from 11.30am until 12.30pm, also via Zoom.

In addition, there will be a young adult carers’ lunch on Saturday from 12.30pm at Mahony’s restaurant in the Clyde Shopping Centre.

You can keep up to date with Carers of West Dunbartonshire on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, where you’ll find regular updates about the various events being organised by the group.

For more information about any of the events on offer during Carers Week, call the charity on 0141 941 1550 or visit carerswd.org for all staff contact information.

New research released for Carers Week found that fewer than one in five – 14 per cent – of the country’s unpaid carers are confident that the support they receive with caring will continue following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The same study also found that carers lost, on average, 25 hours of support a month they previously had from services or family and friends before the pandemic.

Almost three quarters – 72 per cent – of carers have not had any breaks from their caring role at all. Of those who got a break, one in three used the time to complete practical tasks or housework, and a quarter (26 per cent) to attend their own medical appointments.

Three out of four reported being exhausted as a result of caring during the pandemic, and more than a third – 35 per cent – said they felt unable to manage their unpaid caring role.