CARERS WEEK SCOTLAND 2015

That this House welcomes Carers Week 2015; understands that Carers Week is an annual awareness campaign, which takes place between 8 and 14 June 2015 and is supported by six national charities, Carers Scotland, Carers Trust Scotland, MS Society Scotland, Macmillan Cancer Support, Independent Age and Age UK; notes that, by raising awareness of carers at a national, regional and local level, the week hopes to improve the lives of carers and the people they care for; further notes that Carers Week 2015 will see the launch of carer-friendly communities, which will aim to build communities that support carers in looking after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own; understands that there are over 759,000 carers in Scotland with half of those struggling to make ends meet and 80 per cent stating that caring has a negative impact on their health; and believes that every effort should be made to ensure that carers receive all the support they require to continue their valuable service to the people that they care for.