National Carers Week

This week is National Carers Week. It’s estimated that around 6 million people in the UK care for a family member or loved one at home.

The theme of this year's Carers Week is ‘The True Face of Carers’. It calls for greater recognition and support for the diverse – and often unexpected – range of people who give up their money, time and health to look after somebody else.
Central to providing year round support to carers are two of The National Gardens Schemes (NGS) beneficiary charities: 

Crossroads Care
Their service is about improving the lives of carers by giving them time to be themselves and have a break from their caring responsibilities. Earlier this year the NGS donated £350,000 to Crossroads Care to help them support people who care for a loved one at home. 

Macmillan Cancer Support
They provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support; listen to people affected by cancer and work together for better cancer care. The NGS is Macmillan Cancer Supports single biggest beneficiary having donated over £13 million pounds to them.

You can show your support for Carers Week 2011 this weekend by visiting a garden that opens on behalf of the NGS. Eighty-four pence of every pound donated at a garden opening goes to the caring, nursing and gardening charities like Crossroads Care and Macmillan Cancer Support that the NGS helps support.