It's National Carers Week: token gesture or good idea?

Jean Stogdon
Chair, Grandparents Plus

I'm a carer for my husband but the week didn't register. It always seems to be year of this or that, or day or week of something or other - it's becoming pretty meaningless. These weeks used to have an impact but now they've lost their oomph. Perhaps that's our fault for not using them more imaginatively.

Jaya Kathrecha
Carer

I was asked to speak at a National Carers Week event so it's given me a voice but that's just once a year. The rest of the time we are ignored. Our primary care trust did a report on changing mental health services with no mention of the word carer. And when professionals assessed my son they ignored my needs.

Joan Scott
director, Action Unlimited

They said it was Carers Week at the carers meeting I go to. It's a good idea. Two of my children have learning difficulties but when they were small nobody ever said to me "are you coping - can we help?". If you have learning difficulties you don't like to ask for support in case they take your children away.

Ibrahim Koroma
Asylum seeker

It's also Refugee Week but events for carers seem to receive a lot more publicity. Carers may think they get a poor deal but they should try being a refugee or asylum seeker - we really are at the very bottom of the pile. You are expected to exist with no support at all - nobody seems to care what happens to you.