MICHAEL CONNARTY MP BACKS CAMPAIGN FOR UKâ€™s SIX MILLION CARERS

Michael Connarty MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk has teamed up with the Carers Week UK organisation, and pledged his support for Carers Week 2007* (11-17th June). Michael and his UK Parliamentary colleagues are drawing attention to the UKâ€™s six million carers â€“ people who look after a loved one who is either ill, frail or disabled â€“ to help them gain the recognition and support they desperately need.

‘My Life as a Carer’ is the theme for Carers Week, and a survey of 3,500 carers has revealed the immense impact caring can have on every aspect of their life including, health, finances, career and relationships.

Two out of every three carers (66%) admitted that their personal relationships had suffered as a direct result of caring, with 60% revealing they have little quality time together with their partners. Two thirds (67%) admitted to being financially worse off, with a quarter (28%) unable to support their family properly. An alarming three-quarters of carers had not had a break from their caring role in the past 12 months.

Carers Week will highlight the services available to help ease the burden of caring and ensure carers lives’ are changed for the better.

Michael says: “From as early as my primary school years I helped look after my wheelchair bound grandmother, going down before school to help her get out of bed and going back at night to run errands and help her cook her dinner. I am delighted to be supporting Carers Week. There are six million carers in the UK, including many in Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency. On top of worrying about a loved one’s needs, it must be terrible if carers themselves feel they have nowhere and nobody to turn to. I was lucky as I come from a large extended family but people are often more isolated today.

“I hope that by supporting Carers Week, more of my constituents who are dedicated to looking after someone will find out what services and support are available to them locally. They deserve it.”

Michael has also signed up to a parliamentary Early Day Motion which calls for an updated and improved National Carers Strategy.

A host of well-known faces are supporting Carers Week, including Esther Rantzen, Coleen Nolan, Brenda Blethyn and Miss Great Britain 2006-07, Preeti Desai. Preeti has said: “I’m thrilled to be supporting Carers Week. I wanted to be involved due to my personal experience as a carer which came about when my mother was ill and I took a year off to care for her. I hope that Carers Week will raise awareness about the vital role carers play in our society and help them achieve the recognition and support they deserve."