Michael Shann, Head of Carer Support at Carers UK, shares his thoughts on this year’s Carers Week’s theme, Building Carer Friendly Communities, and encourages carers to connect with the support available to them.

In his video message, Michael discusses how caring can be both isolating and challenging, and why it is so important that we all play a role in creating communities where carers feel understood, valued and supported.

He highlights the different types of carer friendly communities that exist, both in local areas and online, where carers can connect with others who understand their experiences, as well as the specialist communities for carers supporting people with particular health conditions or disabilities.

Michael explains how Carers UK membership is free and takes only a few minutes to sign up. Membership connects carers with more than 46,000 other carers, former carers and supporters from across the UK.

He also highlights Carers Connect, Carers UK’s online forum, which has provided a supportive space for carers to share experiences and advice for many years, as well as the weekly ‘Care for a Cuppa’ Zoom sessions, which offer carers a welcoming opportunity to connect with others.

Find out more on the Carers Week website.

Watch Michael’s full Carers Week message above.