THERE are 52,000 carers in the Bradford district - the equivalent of one in ten people.

This week the spotlight is on the vital role that carers play, providing a service in the home that would otherwise be largely met by the NHS.

According to the Carers UK, unpaid carers are saving the UK £87 billion every year in potential care costs, amounting to more than the Government's total spend on the NHS in the last financial year.

These new figures, calculated by the University of Leeds, reveal the huge contribution that carers make to the economy. The cost of providing alternative care if a carer wasn't available is estimated at £14.50 per hour which means that on average, every carer looking after a relative or friend who is ill or has a disability saves the national economy £15,260 per year.

If even a small proportion of people were to give up their caring role, through ill health or lack of support for example, there would be a significant economic impact on the NHS and social care system.

This week is Carers Week, celebrating the work of carers and raising awareness of the help and support available to them.

Carers’ Resource, Bradford’s integrated carer service, is holding a range of activities focusing on ‘Carer Friendly Communities’.

Events include a drop-in open day for carers and professionals at the Carers’ Resource base at Unit 15, Park View Court, Shipley, tomorrow from 10am to 12noon.

Visitors will have chance to find out about free services available, including planning for emergencies, assessments of carer’s needs, support in filling in forms and applying for benefits, a tailored information service, and Caring Callers, a telephone befriending service.

The CReate team - which helps carers who are juggling work or studies with their role, and supports carers looking to get back into work, training or education - will be on hand, and representatives from Home from Hospital, supporting people who live alone or who need extra support on being discharged from hospital.

Anne Smyth, director of Carers’ Resource, said: “One of the biggest challenges we face is finding the ‘hidden carers’ as people do not recognise that what they are doing is caring, and therefore they don’t seek help until they actually reach breaking point.

“We are working closely with GP practices and integrated care teams so we can reach out to carers at an earlier stage, at the stage when they actually become a carer, so help can be in place much sooner.

“Carers have come to us suffering from depression, anxiety and a whole host of other issues. This can all have a major impact on their health and wellbeing, as well as their capacity to care. If we can get carers into a support network, like ours, we can begin to unpick their problems and find them the tailor-made support they need.

“The support we offer ranges from mentoring and confidence-building workshops and courses, support with benefits checks and financial issues, and generally an empathetic ear from people who understand the scope of what they’re going through.

“Caring can be a very isolating role because of the sheer demands it puts on carers’ time and energy, and often carers neglect themselves and their own needs.”

This week Carers' Resource staff are attending Wellbeing Cafes, day care centres, and holding information stands at GP surgeries and hospitals.

The CReate team is at the University of Bradford’s atrium today from 10am to 2pm, giving information to carers among the staff and students on campus.

Tomorrow sees an open day for carers and professionals at Carers’ Resource Centre in Shipley from 10am to 12noon, with staff meeting carers and explaining services on offer. There will be a 'Super Hero board' where carers will be invited to ‘get it off their chest’.

Carers’ Resource supports around 5,700 carers in the district through one-to-one support, casework, information, support groups, employment and training advice and planning for emergencies.

Anyone can become a carer at any time. Three in five of us will become a carer in our lifetime, and men are almost as likely as women to be carers, with 42per cent of carers being men.

A caring role can be instant, such as the result of a road traffic accident or a stroke, or it can creep up on someone, if an elderly parent becomes increasingly frail.

Carer's' Resource is encouraging people to sign up for the Time Out for Tea campaign during Carers Week, helping carers to take time out.

The charity is urging people to invite friends, family or colleagues round for a cuppa, cake and a chat, and ask them to make a donation.

* To find out more or to register a Time Out For Tea event call (01423) 500555, email info@carersresource.org or visit carersresource.org

* For more about Carers Week activities visit carersweek.org or call (01274) 449660.