Sainsbury’s Forest Hill is supporting this year’s Carers Week (18-24 June) by organising an information day for colleagues and customers at the store, with the help of Saint Christopher’s Hospice based in Sydenham. The event, which is taking place at Forest Hill Sainsbury’s on Wednesday 20th June 2012 from 10am onwards.

Carers Week highlights the vital contribution made by carers to their families and communities in providing unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled. This year, the theme for the week is ‘In Sickness and in Health". It calls for greater support for unpaid carers to help them continue in their caring role without facing ill health, stress or financial worry.

Along with many other events taking place across the UK, the event at Sainsbury’s Forest Hill will help to support carers.

Mike Miller from Sainsbury’s Forest Hill said: “Many carers in our local area suffer due to a lack of understanding about what they do – some don’t even recognise themselves as carers. This has a real and negative impact on their health, finances, working and social life, and general wellbeing. We want our event to promote carers and provide them support if they feel isolated.”

This year’s Carers Week is supported by many famous celebrities with caring experience, including TV presenter and former carer, Fiona Phillips.

She says: “From personal experience, I know caring can demand a lot of your time and attention, which in some cases can put pressure on other areas in your life such as financial responsibilities and relationships. These problems can prove to be exhausting and mentally gruelling and can really take its toll on your health and wellbeing. I hope that Carers Week can again help to achieve change, and make a real difference to the lives of carers in this country.”

Other celebrities supporting this campaign include Dame Judi Dench, Lynda Bellingham, Dominic West and Dr Rob Hicks.

Carers Week is organised by a partnership of eight national charities: Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society and Parkinson’s UK.

For more information about the events and activities taking place as part of Carers Week, visit http://www.carersweek.org.