Southport MP Damien Moore has shown his appreciation for the thousands of carers across the town during this year’s Carers Week.

The theme of the initiative this year is to help us all come together and make caring visible, with the #MakeCaringVisible hashtag highlighting the huge contribution made by carers.

Because care provided is often in the privacy of people’s homes, the sacrifices carers make – and the difficulties they face - all too often go unnoticed.

Mr Moore said: “I would like to thank all of our carers, those who are paid and those who are unpaid, for their efforts during this time of crisis.

“We appreciate our carers for everything they have been doing over this period particularly.

“Caring can be very rewarding but I recognise that it can also be challenging, even at the best of times. During this Coronavirus pandemic carers have been dealing with more challenges and providing more care than ever before, supporting family members, friends, and loved ones. For that, we owe them our gratitude.

“Carers Week is a time we should all recognise the superb contribution that our carers make.”

During the past three months of the Coronavirus outbreak and the accompanying lockdown, carers have faced the additional task of how to keep themselves and the person they care for safe. The Government has put various measures in place to ensure that carers have the information, guidance and support they need.

There are 6.5 million people in the UK who are caring for a family member or friend with an illness, disability, addiction or mental health problem, yet many of these unpaid carers feel that their caring role is hidden. One in seven of these carers will also be working as well as caring.

Caring can be rewarding but also challenging as it impacts on all aspects of life, from relationships and health to finances and work, and accessing the right information is vital.

There is support out there.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has launched a range of services that aim to help service users, staff and members of the public cope with the strain of the Coronavirus lockdown.

The Trust has launched its ‘Your Wellbeing’ initiative, which provides a number of different self-help services for people.

The ‘Your Wellbeing’ services include:

The Life Rooms – various online videos that help with general wellbeing, healthy cooking and exercise

Talk Liverpool – psychological therapies to adults who are feeling depressed or anxious. They offer videos on how the service works and various self help guides

24/7 urgent mental health support – provides a helpline 24/7 for anyone 16+ in need of urgent support, available 365 days per year

Psychological support line – provides a listening ear, available from 8am to 8pm for anyone 16+

Help and support is also available through Sefton Carers Centre, which provides free advice and guidance, emotional and practical support, training and a range of holistic therapies for unpaid carers living in Sefton.

For further information about Life Rooms online content please visit: https://www.liferooms.org/online-learning/
For more details about Sefton Carers Centre please visit: www.sefton-carers.org.uk

Be careful now Damien, that’s two statements you made this week, you don’t want to be wearing yourself out.