Invisible but invaluable

Source : Age UK
Published on 28 October 2010 05:30 PM

An older carer looking after her husband.

Age UK opens new charity exhibition to increase visibility of isolated older carers.

WHAT: Age UK’s Invisible but Invaluable photographic exhibition
WHEN: Tuesday 2 November until Saturday 20 November 2010
WHERE: The Gallery in the Crypt, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London
OPENING HOURS: 10:00 – 17:00 daily
PRICE: FREE entry

Age UK – the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged – has teamed up with photographer Sam Mellish to create a rare insight into the reality of caring in later life. The exhibition displays emotive images of older carers with the people they care for, and tells their personal stories.

Although many older carers find caring rewarding and see it as an expression of love for the person they care for, they can also feel invisible and undervalued. That’s why – with the support of Sam Mellish and British Gas – Age UK decided to create a photographic exhibition to make them visible to the MPs who make decisions on the care system; to local authorities who may be contemplating taking away what little support is available; and to members of the public who may be their neighbour or friend and could offer support.

Calendar Girls star and ITV’s Loose Women panellist, Lynda Bellingham, is supporting Age UK’s Caring for Older Carers Campaign to help raise awareness of the plight of older carers, and has contributed a photograph of her mother to the exhibition.

- ENDS -

Notes to editors

British Gas worked with Help the Aged for 11 years on a range of initiatives for people in later life and is proud to continue this work with Age UK. As one of the first UK companies to develop flexible employment policies to support staff with caring responsibilities, British Gas is passionate about raising the profile of older carers and is proud to sponsor this photographic exhibition as part of Age UK’s Caring for older carers Campaign.
[MEDIA ONLY] For more information about Age UK’s Caring for Older Carers Campaign, please contact Helen Spinney by email: helen.spinney@ageuk.org.uk or by phone: 020 8765 7502.
For more information on photographer Sam Mellish, please visit www.sammellishphotography.co.uk.

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