Glasgow Plans To Be A Carer-Friendly City

Published: 7 June 2022

This month (6 June - 12 June) marks Carers Week - an annual campaign to raise awareness of the significant role of carers.

Carers Week is an annual campaign which highlights the challenges unpaid carers face while recognising the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also aims to identify and support those who may not think of themselves as having caring responsibilities.

The theme for Carers Week 2022 is to 'make caring visible, valued and supported'. In Glasgow, 14.4% of adults (74,000) undertake the role of a carer in some shape or form.

The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to provide support for carers, run activities, highlight the vital role carers play in communities and draw attention to just how important caring is.

Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has published a comprehensive three year Carer Strategy and will play a key role in delivering its commitment to making Glasgow a carer-friendly city where unpaid carers are treated with compassion and kindness.  

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Health, Care & Caring and Older People, is keen to ensure all unpaid carers have access to the right support at the earliest opportunity.  

He said: "We know the pandemic created unprecedented challenges for both unpaid carers and care services.  We all have a role to play in making Glasgow's unpaid carers visible - carers may not see themselves as a carer and we need to change that. It's also important to recognise that many employees are also unpaid carers and need support.

"Three in five people will be a carer at some point in their lives - usually when a family member or friend can't manage without help because of an illness, addiction, frailty or a disability. The intention of the Carer's Strategy is to ensure that carers are identified, involved and offered support in their caring journey.  

"Our Glasgow Carer Service has developed various resources to support organisations and individuals to help make the city a carer-friendly one. We want carers to have access to the right information and support they need, where and when they need it."

If you are an unpaid carer in Glasgow and you want to find out about the services and support available, call the Carers Information Line 0141 353 6504 or visit Your Support Your Way Glasgow.