Carers and Families at Rethink Mental Illness celebrate Carers Week 2023
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges unpaid carers face and recognising the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. With one in five unpaid carers supporting someone with a mental health issue, Rethink Mental Illness took the opportunity to recognize the amazing things that carers do for people living with mental illness throughout the week (5-11 June).
We ran a whole host of events for the carers and families we support, from afternoon teas to beach trips. We raised awareness of carers’ stories and experiences, self-care tips and carers’ rights. We worked closely with our friends at Carers UK to ensure carers and families were heard by MPs and policy makers at events happening throughout the week. Two members of our Carers Advisory Board and our CEO even had the opportunity to join a carers reception at Number 10 Downing Street (home of our Prime Minister) hosted by Helen Whately MP, Minister for Social Care at the Department of Health and Social Care.
It was wonderful to spend the week recognizing and celebrating our wonderful carers and families and we look forward to seeing what Carers Week 2024 brings!
*Picture from left to right: Ros Savege (CAB Member), Mark Winstanley (RETHINK CEO), Philippa Lowe (RETHINK Member, EUFAMI Director)