Local MP Gavin Newlands attends Carers Week event

Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, attended a Carers Week speed networking event with carers and charities in Westminster, pledging his continued support to unpaid carers locally.

The event was in support of the recent Carers Week, to celebrate and recognise the vital contribution made by the 6.5 million people across the UK who currently provide unpaid care for a disabled, ill or older family member or friend. It matched up MPs and carers to share experiences of caring and discuss ways to build Carer Friendly Communities – places where local people and services support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own.

Gavin Newlands  MP committed to:

• meeting with carers locally and local services to find out about the challenges faced by carers
• encouraging organisations, services and employers in his to become more Carer Friendly
• raising the profile of caring and speaking up for carers in Parliament
• raising awareness of Carer Friendly Communities in Renfrewshire

Mr Newlands already hosts a carers-specific surgery every month in the Carers Centre in Paisley, allowing him to assist carers with a wide range of matters.

Local MP, Gavin Newlands said:

“I was proud to represent my constituents at the Carers Week event and I pledge to continue to support the 12,529 carers in my constituency throughout this Parliament.  Unpaid carers make a huge contribution to our society, providing vital and often hidden support to friends and family members, and it is right that we value them and ensure they have the right support at the right time. I look forward to working with the Carers Week charities, and, with unpaid carers, locally, to make a difference to their lives.

“Since my initial election in 2015, I have strived to ensure that the voices of carers are heard in the UK Parliament. However, I’ve also worked hard to champion their causes in the local community, this is particularly important as that’s where they come across the most bureaucracy.

“I will continue to run my carers-specific surgery every month and pledge to continue to work for and with carers to champion the issues that are important to them.”

Carers Week 2017 is made possible by Carers UK joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, MS Society and Which? Elderly Care and kindly supported by Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition and the Lockwood Foundation.

For further information visit www.carersweek.org