Carers share their hearts and voices for the nation

Rochdale’s Carers Choir

Rochdale’s Carers Choir’s will debut in a live online broadcast at 2:30pm, Monday 10 June.

The 30 strong choir will perform a repertoire of contemporary songs in celebration of Carers Week, 10-16 June 2013, to encourage other carers to seek and help support from The Carers’ Resource.

Councillor Jean Hornby, cabinet member for adult care at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “I can’t think of a better way to kick start Carers Week than listening to our local Carers Choir sing their hearts out.

“The passion they have and the joy it brings to their lives is audible. The choir has an important message to spread – everyone needs a little helping hand in the caring role and at The Carers’ Resource, we care for carers. Everyone please tune in and take a welcome music break in busy your day.”

United by the shared experience of being a carer, the singers find their fellow choir members are a source of much comfort and support, and the choir practices relaxing, fun and welcome respite.

Mary Crossley, 78, from Middleton has been caring for her husband for five years since he suffered a stroke, and explains what the choir means to her: “I love it here, I enjoy the singing enormously but it is also a place where the members can share problems with those who can identify with the difficulties carers face daily, Many lovely friendships are formed here. I’ve got a whole lot of life still in me and can’t think of anything I’d rather do with the one day off I have in the week.”

There are over 23,260 carers in the borough from a diverse range of backgrounds. There are older carers, parent carers and young carers who on average spend over 50 hours a week providing unpaid care for a loved one. Nationally another 6,000 people take on caring responsibilities every day. Each carer saves the local economy £18,500 a year which equates to a total national saving of £119bn a year.

National Carers Week aims to recognise, celebrate and raise the profile of carers and the contribution they make to those they care for, and to their communities.

The Carers Choir meet every Wednesday, 12:30pm at The Carers’ Resource, 35-37 Oldham Road, Rochdale. It’s open to any carer in the borough to join. To watch and listen to the choral rendition visit www.carersassociation.org

Click here for the week long programme of activities, events and outings for carers has been organised by The Carers’ Resource throughout Carers Week 10-16 June.