Unpaid carers are being urged to check if they are receiving all the support they are entitled to as part of Carers Week.

Running from June 10-16, and with a theme of ‘putting carers on the map’, Oxfordshire County Council and Carers Oxfordshire have teamed up to mark the national week by highlighting the range of help that is available to carers.

Karen Fuller, Oxfordshire County Council's director of adult social care, said: "Unpaid carers contribute enormously to our health and social care system by providing personalised support to people close to them.

There is a range of support on offer for unpaid carersThere is a range of support on offer for unpaid carers (Image: Alamy/UK)

“However, because of the special relationship they might have – perhaps being a family member or close friend - they often don’t consider themselves as having a formal caring role and might be unaware of the range of support entitled to them.

"This Carers Week, I would encourage anyone who has an unpaid caring role in Oxfordshire to take a moment to stop and check what might be available to them, helping to support them to continue to do their vital role."

There is financial, practical, and emotional support available to unpaid carers, much of which is provided by Carers Oxfordshire, a partnership between Action for Carers Oxfordshire and Rethink Mental Illness, with funding support from Oxfordshire County Council.

The services offered include Carersline, which is available from Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, carer assessments, which identify any help unpaid carers may be eligible to receive, support groups, carer ID, to prove carer status and access support and discounts, and Time for You offers.

Along with this, unpaid carers and the people they care for might be qualified for a range of financial support.

This includes carer's allowance, a weekly payment of £81.90 for individuals who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone receiving certain benefits, earning £151 or less a week after tax, National Insurance, and expenses.

Juliet Cocks, head of service for Carers Oxfordshire, said: "You are an unpaid carer if you have someone who relies on you to stay safe and well.

"They could be a neighbour, friend, family member or anyone else who cannot manage without your help.

“At Carers Oxfordshire we’d love more people to come forward and identify themselves as unpaid carers so that we can let them know what is available and provide appropriate support.

“Unpaid carers don’t need to feel alone. These carers are doing something incredible, and we want them to feel noticed and supported. I’d urge anyone who thinks they may be an unpaid carer to reach out to us.”