St John supports Carers' Week

St John Ambulance is supporting Carers’ Week, 8-14 June, to champion the nation’s growing number of six million carers.

Carers’ Week highlights the vital work done by those who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled. This year, the theme for the week is ‘Carers… The UK’s secret service’ and calls for carers to receive greater recognition for the incredible contribution they make to their families and their communities.

‘As the nation’s leading first aid charity, care is at the very heart of what St John Ambulance does and is embodied in all of our community projects,’ said Sue Killen CEO for St John Ambulance.

‘Many carers suffer due to a lack of understanding about what they do – some don’t even recognise themselves as carers. This has a real and negative impact on their health, finances, working and social life, and general wellbeing.’

St John Ambulance runs a range of schemes, projects and initiatives that deliver a different type of aid to the people in society who need it the most.

The Carers Support Programme provides advice and first aid training to the nation’s growing number of informal carers. Day care centres offer a fun and social atmosphere for the elderly who may otherwise be isolated, and the Young Carers project supports and develops young people that care for others on a regular basis.