Andrew Mitchell MP has teamed up with TV presenter Angela Rippon to support this year’s Carers Week (13-19 June) and recognise the contribution made by those people in Sutton Coldfield and throughout the UK who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled. The theme for Carers Week 2011 is ‘The True Face of Carers’. It calls for greater recognition for the diverse range of people who have caring responsibilities. The work they carry out is vital for their families and friends, and for their communities. Andrew Mitchell MP and Angela have joined together to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles. Andrew Mitchell MP said, “Carers Week is an important occasion for recognising publicly the huge amount of time, effort and devotion that carers contribute week in, week out throughout the UK. I am taking part in Carers Week in order to recognise the outstanding work that carers in Sutton Coldfield undertake, they are the unsung heroes of our local community and I thank them for all they do.” Angela Rippon has personal experience of being a carer. She said, “For a number of years now I’ve become aware of the extraordinary job that carers do throughout this country. I feel that it’s important that anybody who has any knowledge at all stands up and be counted for them and make the job that they do public, because they should not be invisible, they should be out there and being seen as the heroes and heroines that they are.” Other celebrities supporting this campaign include Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Jason OBE, Jack Charlton OBE and Martin Lewis. Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 9 national charities: Age UK, Carers UK, Counsel Care, Crossroads Care, Dementia UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. For more information about local events and activities taking place as part of Carers Week, visit www.carersweek.org.