COLLEAGUES at The Co-operative food store in Westbury hit the right note with unpaid young adult carers on Thursday 24th January when they launched a “record” breaking year of fundraising for their new Charity of the Year, Carers Trust.
The charity – which formed last year when The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care came together – will benefit from The Co-operative’s staff, members and customers raising much-needed money to tackle feelings of isolation and provide desperately needed breaks, information, advice and support for 14-25 year-olds facing the challenges of caring.
To mark the launch, staff tuned into a ‘Rock Around the Clock’ theme – an acknowledgement to the 24/7 nature of the challenges facing an estimated 500,000 young people, across the UK, who care for a family member or friend who are ill, frail, disabled or, have mental health or addiction problems.
Simon Bush, manager of the Kingfisher Drive store said, “The challenge of unpaid caring is an often hidden issue, even though it can affect most families at some time. We’re delighted that Carers Trust is our Charity of the Year, and that we have the chance to make a difference to the lives of young people in our communities who undertake practical and emotional caring responsibilities for a family member or friend who cannot cope without their support.”
There are an estimated seven million unpaid carers across the UK, including around 47,000 in Wiltshire. This year, The Co-operative’s 100,000 staff – across its businesses including food, financial services, funeralcare and pharmacy – aim to raise £5m to transform the lives of the UK’s unpaid young adult carers; people in communities who are more than twice as likely not to be in education, employment or training and, many of whom have not taken a break of two days or more since they started caring.
For more information visit www.co-operative. coop/charityoftheyear
Pictured: Staff at the Westbury store last Thursday, as they ‘Rock around the Clock’ to raise money for young carers.
