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Carers contribute an average of 18 hours of voluntary and community work per month, saving the country up to £1bn a year, a new survey has revealed.

The Adding Value: Carers as Drivers of Social Change report by Carers UK also finds that nearly one in 10 carers put in more than 30 hours' volunteering a week on top of their caring responsibilities.

It says carers of all ages and backgrounds get involved in voluntary activities such as running local self-help groups, sitting on NHS and local authority advisory bodies, raising money for charities and helping with care services for disabled people.

However, nearly two-thirds of carers feel their role and contribution isn't properly recognised. Carers UK has called for the government to increase the invalidity care allowance to support carers better.

Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for older people, said it was a "scandal" that carers are not being recognised for their contribution to society. "Labour made a manifesto commitment to create a fund to support carers, yet they have failed to deliver on this promise."

The report recommends local authorities and health services work closer together to prevent carers being asked for the same information and calls on local authorities to regularly consult carers about services, provide them with training when necessary and hold meetings at appropriate times and with sufficient notice.

The survey was released to coincide with the start of Carers Week from 10-16 June. Events include the launch of The Local, Your Focal campaign by Crossroads - Caring for Carers to highlight ways in which the local pub can bring communities together. Carers UK has also launched a carers' register.

- For the executive summary of Adding Value: Carers as Drivers of Social Change visit www.carersonline.org.uk   For more on Carers Week visit www.carersweek.org/events