CHALLENGES faced by carers and the contribution they make to families and communities is being recognised at a Stourbridge supermarket next week.

The annual ‘Carers Week’ is taking place between June 6 and 12 and to mark the occasion Sainsbury’s is holding awareness raising activities in its Amblecote store.

Throughout the week, representatives from Barnardo’s, Age UK Dudley, Living Well Feeling Safe, White House Cancer Support, Dudley Telecare Services, Alzheimer’s Society, Headway Black Country, Dudley Carers Network and Spurgeons Dudley Young Carers will be in store.

They will to talk to customers and staff about the work they do and will be sharing details of the range of support that is available for carers across the borough.

Franc Marrocco, deputy store manager, said: “Many of our colleagues are carers and this is such an important event to inform our customers and colleagues about the help and support that is available in the local community.

“We’re looking forward to inviting in a number of charities into our store to raise awareness.”

Run by Carers UK and six national charities, Carers Week has been designed to help raise awareness of the 6.5 million carers in the UK, with Sainsbury’s supporting Carers UK for the past six years.

Heléna Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “Carers Week is about recognising the valuable contribution that unpaid carers make to families and communities up and down the UK, as well as helping those who don’t think of themselves as carers to recognise that support is available.

“We are delighted that Sainsbury’s Amblecote is helping to raise awareness about the challenges facing carers in the Stourbridge area and the local support that’s available.”

A full list of the dates and times of visiting organisations will be displayed on the store’s notice board ahead of Carers Week.

For more information about the national campaign visit www.carersweek.org