A Northumberland charity is inviting the county to recognise the vital contribution made by unpaid carers.

Carers Week is set to run across the UK from June 10-16, 2024.

This year the theme is 'Putting Carers on the Map' highlighting their contributions across the UK.

On June 11, the Falcon in Prudhoe will be hosting a meal to recognise the role's contributions to society.

On June 12, Hextoll Tans in Hexham are hosting an afternoon tea, in partnership with Carers Northumberland, with tickets priced at £5.

The initiative also aids individuals - who may not yet identify themselves as carers - to accept their roles and seek necessary support.

A carer is someone providing unpaid care and aid to friends or family with disabilities, illness, addiction issues, or additional needs in old age.

Hexham Courant: The week is in mid-June

The care they provide varies greatly in scope, from running errands and meal preparations to round-the-clock emotional and personal care.

Becoming a carer can happen suddenly in cases like a family member being involved in an accident or a child being born with disabilities.

On the other hand, caring responsibilities can gradually increase over time, like supporting parents who can no longer fend for themselves or partners whose health has been progressively deteriorating.

Debra Blakey, chief executive of Carers Northumberland, said: “Putting carers on the map is something we strive to do each day, through supporting unpaid carers in the community to access services to help them to have their voices heard."

Details about Carers Week events can be found on Carers Northumberland's website.