MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE ISSUE (MONDAY 1st JUNE)

#MYRTLE IS TOURING OXFORDSHIRE TO REACH CARERS DURING NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

This Carers Week (8th – 14th June) Carers Oxfordshire is campaigning to raise awareness of caring and the challenges that over 61,000 unpaid carers in Oxfordshire face. The Charity will be touring the county in #Myrtle the yellow VW Campervan and coordinating over 110 special events for carers across the week.

Every year over 2 million people in the UK take on new caring responsibilities – caring is something that will affect us all (Carers UK, 2015). National Carers Week is an annual campaign which provides the opportunity to recognise, support and celebrate carers throughout the UK. The theme for this year’s campaign is to build ‘Carer Friendly Communities’ and recognise unpaid carers for the job they do.

Catherine Blaxhall, Head of Carers Support at Carers Oxfordshire said: “The very nature of caring - of being there for a loved one facing ill health or disability - means too often people don’t recognise themselves as carers and, therefore, miss out on support. Without the right help and support caring can have a devastating impact – carers can quickly become cut off with their physical and emotional health, work and finances all hit hard.”

Over 61,000 Oxfordshire residents identified themselves as carers in the 2011 census. Every day, another 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility (Carers UK). Carers Oxfordshire have coordinated a number of pampering sessions, cream teas and coffee mornings throughout Carers Week to provide local carers with the opportunity to have a treat in recognition of what they do.

The Charity will be launching the week’s events outside County Hall, Oxford on Monday 8th June in #Myrtle from 8am – 10am. The VW Campervan will be branded yellow and have Carers Oxfordshire advisors and partner organisations on board, along with plenty of free information and advice for carers. Through the week, #Myrtle will then be visiting four different locations a day.

#Myrtle locations include: Tesco Stores in Cowley, Henley, Didcot, Bicester, Abingdon; Sainsbury’s Stores in Heyford Hill, Wantage, Witney, Kidlington, Didcot; Nottcutts Garden Centre, Yarnton Nurseries and Millets Farm.

Catherine Blaxhall said: “We are thrilled to be working across Oxfordshire to raise awareness of carers’ rights and issues and to help enable them to access the support and advice they need. We are working closely with our partners and colleagues to ensure that every carer has access `

to information to support them in their caring role and to build carer friendly communities in Oxfordshire.”

A full list and details of all events and #Myrtle stops during Carers Week can be found on Carers Oxfordshire’s website www.carersoxfordshire.org.uk or you can call 01235 424715.

In partnership with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Oxfordshire County Council, a pharmacy campaign will be launched in June and run throughout 2015, offering carers a free health and wellbeing assessment from their local pharmacist. Carers Oxfordshire encourage carers to approach their local pharmacist to find out more.

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Notes for Editors

Media contact:Catherine Blaxhall, Head of Carers Support for Carers OxfordshireTel: 01235 424715 or 07557 430881 or email: catherineblaxhall@carersoxfordshire.org.ukTwitter handle: @oxoncarers

About Carers Week:Carers Week 2015 runs from Monday 8 to Sunday 14 June, it is an annual UK-wide awareness campaign which takes place to celebrate and recognise the vital contribution made by the UK’s 6.5 million carers.

Across the UK 6.5 million - 1 in 8 people - are caring for a loved one who is older, disabled, terminally or seriously ill. As the population ages, the number of carers is rising fast. 61,131 identified themselves in the 2011 census in Oxfordshire – this is likely to be an under estimate.

Carers Week is made possible by Carers UK joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, Skills for Care and the Stroke Association.

Find out more about Carers Week by visiting www.carersweek.org

About Carers Oxfordshire:Carers Oxfordshire is a free service that offers information, advice and support to unpaid carers in Oxfordshire.

Based on a partnership between Action for Carers Oxfordshire, registered charity number 1149577 and Oxfordshire County Council, it has built up a national reputation for reaching and supporting carers in innovative ways.

By identifying carers much earlier in their caring lives and ensuring they are in contact with preventive services, the service aims to reduce the likelihood of crises and carer breakdown.

The Carers Oxfordshire service aims to make it easier for carers, whatever their situation, to access information and support through:

A telephone information service Face to face outreach support Carer support groups Training opportunities including first aid and moving and handling sessions.

Telephone: 0845 050 7666Email: carersoxfordshire@oxfordshire.gov.ukWebsite: www.carersoxfordshire.org.ukTwitter: @oxoncarers

Calendar of events for Carers Week events in Oxfordshire

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See attached PDF – Carers Week Event Schedule 2015 Pull Out

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