This week I was pleased to attend an important event in Parliament to celebrate the amazing contribution carers make to our local communities, and pledge my support to unpaid carers across Hove and Portslade as part of Carers Week 2019.

Carers Week, which runs from 10-16 June, is a national awareness week that celebrates and recognises the vital contribution made by those caring, unpaid, for someone living with an illness, disability, mental health condition or as they grow older.

Carers make a huge contribution to our society, providing vital and often hidden support to friends and family members. That’s why I am supporting Carers Week 2019 and encouraging individuals and organisations across Hove and Portslade to think about what more they can do to get carers connected to support and ensure carers feel valued and supported.

The seven charities driving Carers Week 2019 are calling on individuals, organisations and services throughout the country to improve the lives of carers by getting carers connected to practical and financial support, and are calling for a step change in the way society supports those caring unpaid for family and friends.

Locally, the Brighton and Hove Carers Hub is doing amazing work on this, and I was pleased to attend its launch in 2017. It’s a vital local charity supporting unpaid carers, including a support line and dedicated website for local carers and the support both young and adult carers receive from the centre is something I’m very proud of. You can read more about this here:  https://www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/news/mps-back-scheme-for-carers-in-brighton-and-hove-1-8264177, and on their website: https://carershub.co.uk/