Carers Week (9-15 June 2025) is an annual opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution unpaid carers make to families, communities, and the wider health and social care system – and to raise awareness of the challenges they face.
Throughout the week, staff within Health & Social Care Moray (HSCM) will be encouraging everyone to play their part in helping people recognise their caring role and access the support they may need.
In Moray, an estimated 16,200 people look after a family member, friend or neighbour who is getting older, has a disability, long-term condition or is affected by addiction, and who could not manage without their support.
Despite their vital role, many people donโt identify as a carer. Instead, they see themselves simply as a parent, spouse or partner, child, relative or friend. As a result, they may miss out on support and services which are there to help them.
Councillor Elaine Kirby, Chair of Moray Integration Joint Board (IJB) which has oversight of local health and social care services, said: โI would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all our unpaid carers, including young carers, who enrich the lives of so many people in Moray.
โCaring for a loved one is something many of us will do in our lifetime, and it can be hugely rewarding. However, we must make sure that we are caring for our carers, too. Carers Week provides a great opportunity for us to highlight their dedication and hard work, and to encourage them to reach out for the support thatโs available.โ
Ivan Augustus, Unpaid Carers representative on the Moray IJB, added: โUnpaid carers really are essential partners in the health and social care system. Staff can make a huge difference by making sure that they help people to identify as unpaid carers, giving them the right support to help them care and to protect their own health and wellbeing.โ
This yearโs Carers Week theme is โCaring About Equality’ which highlights the inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health, and missed opportunities in education, careers, and personal lives.
HSCM is committed to tackling these issues through its unpaid carers strategy, โRecognised, Valued, Supported.โ Key themes include improving access to information and advice, empowering carers to manage their role, support for well-being, ensuring carers’ rights are upheld, and fostering a partnership where carers are valued as equal and expert partners.
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Quarriers Carer Support Service is funded by HSCM to provide information, advice and support services for adults and young people providing unpaid care through its carers centre, which is based at 232 High Street, Elgin. Quarriers can be contacted by calling 01343 556031 or emailing carersmoray@quarriers.org.uk.
