South Lanarkshire Council marks Carers Week with raising of flag
Carers Week is taking place, and South Lanarkshire Council is flying the flag for unpaid carers across the region.
A new Carers Week flag has been raised at the local authority's headquarters in Hamilton.
South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership raised the standard to show support for carers across the area with the special week taking place from June 9 to 15.
Hoisting the flag was a group of young carers, who were joined by Councillor Kirsty Williams, depute chair of the council's Social Work Resources Committee, Professor Soumen Sengupta, chief officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, Francine O'Donnell from Lanarkshire Carers, Ian Sloan from South Lanarkshire Young Carers Service, and Brian Murphy, Carers Representative on the South Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board.
Councillor Williams said: 'Many people do not think of themselves as being unpaid carers, and yet that is exactly what they are doing in their daily lives.
'Carers Week provides an important opportunity to recognise the invaluable contribution that unpaid carers make to their families and our communities, acknowledge the challenges that many of them have to contend with and promote the supports available.
'If you are an unpaid carer, please know that you are not alone and that help is available.'
Professor Sengupta said: 'More and more of us have unpaid carers in our families – and indeed will be providing a level of unpaid care ourselves.
'From talking with people for whom unpaid caring is a significant element of their lives, I know that they do this out of love and a deep sense of personal responsibility.
'This is especially true for young carers, as exemplified by the young people who joined with us to raise the flag. I was impressed by them all and they are a credit to our communities.'
One young carer who helped to raise the flag added: 'It is good that Carers Week exists as it makes people aware that there are various types of carers, as well as helping us feel seen and appreciated, and realise we are not alone.'
Mr Murphy said: 'It was a pleasure to be at the flag-raising. As a carer myself, it was heart-warming to see that the council is so invested in carers, and the flag will hopefully bring attention to Carers Week and raise the profile for all unpaid carers.'
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