Carers Week takes place between June 11th-17 June and events will be taking place across Wiltshire to help to support and celebrate the vital work done by the region’s carers.

The theme for this year’s Carers Week is ‘Getting Carers Connected in Their Communities’. Carers can feel unable to talk to friends about their caring role and it’s estimated that one in three feel socially isolated.

Jan Lawrence from Devizes, was a carer to her partner who was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx, until he died in 2013. She gave up work after 30 years in the workplace in order to care for him full time. Her social network began to shrink and she experienced loneliness and isolation.

“It never occurred to me that other carers were going through the same problems, as I had never met anybody else who was doing the same thing,” she says. “If I had had contact with others carers I would not have felt so isolated and I think this probably happens a lot. People who are non-carers need to know how difficult it can be caring for someone. Just doing small things for a carer can help a lot.

“I became a volunteer for Carer Support Wiltshire because I felt I could help carers, using my past experiences. Very often all that is needed is a sympathetic ear and somebody who knows the difficulties they are having.

Carer Support Wiltshire (CSW) employs a number of Community Connectors who work across the county, including Diana James, who covers Warminster and surrounding areas.

“My job is to know what there is in my area for carers. We try to reduce isolation. If someone is looking after their partner who has dementia it can be hard to go out as they’re never sure what their behaviour is going to be like. Their social activities can get limited.

“CSW run a number of Carer Cafes, support groups and activities such as cream teas in the summer months. I encourage carers to get involved so they can talk to other carers.”

CSW will be running a number of events during Carers Week, including launch celebrations for new carer services in three of the region’s community hospital – Savernake, Warminster and Chippenham. If you’d like to come to any of the events below you can find out more at www.carersupportwiltshire.co.uk or call us on 0800 181 4118.

Monday 10th June

Carers clinic - Beversbrook Medical Centre – 10.30am - midday

Launch of new carer services – Savernake Hospital – 1pm - 4pm

Tuesday 11th June

Carers café launch – The Swan Hotel, Bradford-on-Avon – 10.30am - 12.30pm

Information station – Salisbury Library – 9am – 1pm

Wednesday 12th June

Carers bereavement group – Goodson Lodge, Trowbridge – 2pm – 4pm

Launch of new carer services – Warminster Hospital – 1pm – 4pm

Thursday 13th June

Carer café – The Angel, Royal Wootton Bassett – 10.30am - midday

Carer Clinic – Lovemead Surgery, Trowbridge – 2pm

Friday 14th June

Launch of new carer services – Chippenham Hospital – 1pm – 4pm

Saturday 15th June

Young adult carers café – Grounded, Chippenham – 11am – 1pm

Afternoon Tea and entertainment - Westonbirt School – 2pm. This is a popular annual event – book as soon as possible to be sure of a place.