WITH National Carers Week running this week and concern mounting about the UK's army of unpaid carers, councils in Dorset are keen to flag up their initiative to help.

The councils are calling on businesses to sign up to offer discounts and deals for carers who present a 'Carers Card'.

The Carers Card was introduced two years ago and aims to recognise the hard work of unpaid carers across the county of Dorset.

According to the Office of National Statistics, unpaid carers across the UK save the country approximately £60 billion a year.

An evidence report released alongside the Government Action Plan for Carers for 2018 to 2020 showed more than a third of carers had to reduce their working hours after becoming a carer and almost half had to give up work altogether.

The Carers Card is designed to give carers a much-needed helping hand and enables them to obtain discounts at shops and businesses that have signed up to the scheme.

Since its launch in 2016, Carers Card has acquired more than 240 business signings and has more than 7,000 unpaid carers currently entitled to discounts across the county.

But Carers Card needs more businesses to join the scheme.

A spokesman for Carer Card said: "This discount scheme helps to remind the wider community that unpaid carers are out there amongst us and that there is actually something positive they can do to support them. The increased visibility that the Carers Card offers helps carers to feel valued in our society and appreciative of that extra support and recognition the card gives."

The project is funded by Dorset County Council, Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, Bournemouth Borough Council and The Borough of Poole.

Julie England of Carer Card said: "Our Dorset councils are very forward thinking with this card and Carers UK are urging other councils across the country to follow suit."

To sign up to the scheme visit www.mycarerscard.co.uk/for-business or contact Julie England via email at julie@mycarerscard.co.uk or by calling 01202 764778.

To see which businesses already offer discounts in your area visit www.mycarerscard.co.uk/directory

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e: caroline.lewis

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