A NATIONAL week dedicated to helping carers is being supported wholeheartedly in mid Cheshire.

Carers' Week runs from Monday to Sunday and aims to raise awareness about the unpaid work that they do, not only to members of the public but also to those who give their time but often do not recognise themselves as carers.

David Harvey, chief executive of Cheshire Carers Centre, said: "Carers' Week is the one week in the year when we especially acknowledge the role that carers play in the community.

"During this week carers will have the opportunity to enjoy some fun activities, meet other carers to share experiences and find out more about local services provided through the Carers Centre and other voluntary and statutory bodies."

He added: "Many carers simply don't see themselves as carers, but rather as wives, husbands, sons, daughters or parents of someone who has a disability, illness or requires more help as they get older.

"There is now a wider awareness that a carer's role is usually physically exhausting and emotionally demanding and Carers' Week is a way of recognising this."

There are more than five million carers in the UK, with more than 20,000 of those based in mid Cheshire, and in total their work saves the Government £57billion each year.

Many have to give up their income and future employment prospects or struggle to manage work commitments with caring responsibilities and often forget about their own health.

The theme of this year's Carers' Week is 'In sickness and in health' with the focus being on carers who often neglect their own health needs while continuing their carers' role.

David said: "It's paramount that carers take care of themselves and think of their own needs.

"There are support networks available for carers to use and it's important that they don't become ill themselves."

He added: "We don't want carers to struggle alone, unaware of the range of help and benefits available to them."

Bill Phillips, 73, of Fieldfare, Winsford, is a full time carer for his wife Jean, 72, who has had a series of four strokes in the past 10 years leaving the right side of her body devoid of sensation.

The couple have been married for 52 years, but since 1996 Bill has been Jean's full time carer, taking early retirement from British Rail in Chester in order to be able to look after her 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Bill said: "Caring for Jean has become part of my daily routine now.

"From when I get her out of bed every morning to when I put her to bed at night I do everything she needs throughout the day.

"Being a carer is something that is there all the time, you have to deal with it permanently and there really isn't much opportunity to relax.

"You can't just decide to take a day off when you feel like it, it's not that easy. It's certainly time consuming, but it's part of my life now."

Cheshire Carers Centre organises drop-in meetings for carers who don't live near the main centre in Northwich, Bill says these sessions offer him fantastic support.

He said: "When I get the chance, which isn't as often as I'd like, I go to the drop in centre at St Luke's Hospice, in Winsford, on the third Tuesday of each month.

"It's a great place to go for information and support and even to find out what events are on so at least I know about them if I do get the chance to go."

An important aspect of Carers' Week is providing information to carers on a range of topics that will help them in their role as a carer.

Sarah Sharp, from Cheshire Carers Centre, said: "The thing we're really pushing this year is information for carers in our area.

"We've compiled packs of fact sheets which will be available to everyone during Carers' Week and cover a wide variety of information on issues which will be useful to carers, from health issues to welfare benefits and looking after someone else's money.

"It's a really useful resource and we want carers in mid Cheshire to make the most of it."

Events organised in mid Cheshire include a therapeutic session at the Salvation Army Citadel, in Northwich, on Wednesday, June 14, from 10.30am to 12.30pm, followed by lunch at Cheshire Carers Centre, Albion Walk, Northwich.

There will be a session on digital photography at the Cheshire Carers Centre on Thursday, June 15, from 10.30am.

Anyone interested in receiving a fact sheet pack or attending events in Northwich should ring 0800 085 0307.