THE WORK of Enfield’s 20,000 unpaid carers is being recognised with a week of free parties, therapies and information events.

There are over 24,000 unpaid carers in Enfield, a fifth of whom work more than 50 hours a week.

A new survey for Carers Week, which ends on Friday, shows that across London, nearly three-quarters of carers providing unpaid care were reaching breaking-point because of stress over finances, access to services and exhaustion.

Cabinet member for adult social services at Enfield Council, Edward Smith, said: “The Carers Allowance at £53.10 is the lowest benefit there is.

“Carers Week will highlight and celebrate the incredible contribution that carers make, sharing the positive experiences as well as the more difficult.”

He added: "Thanks to the constant unpaid work that carers do, day in, day out, helping those who are ill, frail or disabled, they save the economy £87 billion."

Enfield Council has organised a host of activities for the next fortnight to celebrate Carers Week.

This Friday, a pizza night is being held for young carers at the Alan Pullinger Centre, in John Bradshaw Road, Southgate, while on Saturday a party for Mental Health Carers will be held at at St. Aldhelm’s Church Hall, in Windmill Road, Edmonton.

Esporta Health Club in Enfield is donating complimentary one-day passes for NCHT Carers, available by calling Andy Wickens on 0208 370-4123, and the Nightingale Community Hospice Trust (NCH), which provides support for cancer suffers and their families, is offering carers free drop-in counselling sessions on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

Help filling out forms and benefit advice will also be available.

A spokeswoman for the NCHT said: “Many carers go through an emotional rollercoaster and at the Nightingale we can organise for carers to see a counsellor on a one-to-one basis.

“We also offer complementary therapies to all our carers enabling them to have an hour of pampering which uplifts their spirits and together with relaxation classes gives them techniques to use when they are feeling stressed."

For more information on Carers Week, contact Sally Ainsworth at the Nightingale Community Hospice Trust on 0208 366-4333.