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Community News

Caring for the carers

Fiona Prinzi of Swindon Carers is a carer, and
Centre highlights the need to anyone can
recognise those who help others. become one
Swindon Carers Centre’s mission at any time.
is to improve the well-being of Unpaid caring is
people with caring responsibilities, not a choice.
from the age of five, creating Carers are the
a community where carers are most amazing,
recognised, valued and supported. selfless, patient
We currently support 3,000 unpaid people you will ever meet. It’s,
carers, including 700 young carers very hard work, but carers say to
between the age of 5 and 18, by us they are just being a husband,
providing assessment, emotional wife, mother, father, son, daughter,
and practical support, information brother, sister or a good friend to a
about health services and activities loved one.
to give them a much needed break So, if you are a carer, who is
from their caring role. looking after you?
We work with Swindon schools, That’s what we do at Swindon
colleges and academies to support Carers Centre, so please contact us
young carers, which is crucial if if you would like to find out how we
they are to attend well, achieve and can support you.
have aspirations for their futures in www.swindoncarers.org.uk
line with peers who do not have a l Carers Week takes place from
caring role. 6 to 12 June and is an annual
There are 21,000 unpaid carers campaign to raise awareness of
in Swindon alone and they save caring.
the Swindon purse £395 million Swindon Carers Centre is holding
per year. Carers in the UK save the a Walk A Mile event in Swindon
economy a massive £132 billion per town centre on Saturday 11 June,
year - close to the cost of setting up 10.30am for 11am from the Artsite
a second NHS. Gallery in Theatre Square. To
It is in everyone’s interest to register call Heather Goldsmith on
support carers. One in eight of us 01793 531133.

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