Alison McInnes MSP Meets and Hears from Unpaid Family Carers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Jun 2010

Alison meets unpaid carers at the VSA Carers' Centre in Peterhead

Aberdeenshire MSP, Alison McInnes, visited the VSA Carers' Centre in Peterhead to show her support to unpaid carers during this year's Carers' Week. Alison attended the unveiling of the "Life of my Own" montage which has been developed from personal experiences of caring for a family member or friend.

Carers' Week takes place each year and celebrates the enormous contribution made by Scotland's unpaid carers as they provide personal, emotional and practical support to family members who can't manage without their help because of disability, frailty, sickness or substance misuse or mental health issues. In Aberdeenshire alone there are over 29,000 unpaid carers. The contribution carers and young carers make to society is estimated to save the public purse £7.68 billion a year.

Meeting with carers at the VSA, Alison McInnes commented:

"I have found it of great benefit meeting and chatting to carers from all walks of life that put a family member first. The VSA Carers' Centre in Peterhead is a lifeline to many local people, giving support, advice and a safe haven where they can express themselves freely.

"I realise the difficulties people face in balancing full time caring roles with having time to themselves and the importance of knowing they are not alone.

"The montage of photographs and quotes sums up the "Life of my Own" theme and will be on display around the region in Libraries and Health Centres. The message from the Carers' Centre is that you don't have to cope alone, help is available for every carer, preferably before the crisis point is reached."