AS WE live longer due to advances in medicine and public health, a greater demand is placed on those who care for us.

Carers’ Week (11-17 June) is an annual awareness campaign to bring caring right out into the open by recognising and celebrating the contribution carers make to families and communities throughout the UK. Carers due to their demanding role are often prone to suffer from isolation and ill-health.

Carers can be family, volunteers and paid staff.

Hampshire County Council is responsible for providing statutory services in this area, but these are means tested. Conservative government cuts have impacted on social care, and Conservative Hampshire is less generous than many other Tory councils.

As a result, much of the burden falls on family members.

This Carers’ Week we want to draw attention to the brilliant local carers in Andover and the surrounding villages who work tirelessly, often without recognition or support.

Across the UK there are around 6.5 million carers, looking after elderly, disabled or unwell family and friends.

As our population ages and people live longer, more and more of us will find ourselves becoming carers for those close to us. Many people do not identify themselves as carers. They feel they are just doing what anyone else would do, so they do not always know what support is available to them. Accessing the support available is no easy matter, and is an area where charities play an important role.

This Carers Week, caring charities like Carers UK, Age UK and MS Society, are coming together with local communities to make sure carers stay healthy and connected. Caring can be a hugely rewarding experience, enriching relationships and bringing satisfaction and wellbeing. However, the hours of care that the 6.5 million carers provide for ill, seriously ill or disabled loved ones often comes at a cost to their own health and wellbeing.

All of us, wherever we live, whatever we do, have a part to play.

If you are reading this as a carer, then thank you!

Luigi Gregori, Charlton Road, Andover.