St. Osyth Priory and Parish Trust marks Carers Week by recognising the vital role of unpaid carers

To mark Carers Week, St. Osyth Priory and Parish Trust  welcomed members of a local carers group to enjoy a short respite visit at St. Osyth Priory, including a narrated tour of the estate and refreshments in its historic surroundings. The visit was designed to offer carers a moment to pause, reconnect and enjoy the beauty, history and parklands of this special local place.

Carers Week – 8-14 June 2026 - shines a spotlight on the contribution of unpaid carers across the UK and the pressures many face every day. Across the UK, around 5.8 million people provide unpaid care for a family member, friend or neighbour, while wider analysis suggests as many as 8.9 million adults may be providing unpaid care at any given time. Research also shows that caring can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing, with many carers reporting stress, anxiety and exhaustion as they balance caring responsibilities with work, family life and their own needs.

The Trust believes strongly that supporting carers’ health and wellbeing is essential. Even a short break, a welcoming environment and a chance to feel seen and appreciated can make a meaningful difference. As a charity dedicated to preserving, restoring and sharing the heritage and beauty of St. Osyth Priory and the wider parish for the education, wellbeing and enjoyment the Trust is keen to use the Priory as a place where local people can feel valued, connected and uplifted.

Mrs Sonia Grantham BEM, Trustee, St Osyth Priory and Parish Trust, commented:“We are proud to be part of our local community, and we understand just how much unpaid carers do, often quietly and without recognition.

“Carers Week is an important opportunity to acknowledge their dedication and to highlight how important it is that carers are also supported in looking after their own health and wellbeing. We were delighted to welcome members of the local carers group to St. Osyth Priory and hope their time here offered a chance, however brief, to rest, recharge and feel appreciated.”

For St. Osyth Priory and Parish Trust, recognising carers is also about celebrating local heroes — people whose compassion, commitment and resilience sustain families and strengthen the wider community. By opening its doors during Carers Week, the Trust hopes not only to say thank you, but also to encourage greater awareness, understanding and appreciation of the extraordinary contribution unpaid carers make every day.

“At Essex Carers Support, in partnership with our colleagues at Action for Family Carers, we work with thousands of family carers living in Essex and see first-hand both the rewards and challenges that caring can bring. Opportunities such as this visit are so important in helping carers feel recognised, valued and connected.

"This year’s Carers Week theme, ‘Building Carer Friendly Communities’, is a timely reminder that supporting carers is everyone’s responsibility. By working together, local charities, community organisations, employers and public services can help ensure carers receive the understanding, recognition and practical support they need to maintain their own health and wellbeing while continuing in their caring roles.

"We are grateful to St. Osyth Priory and Parish Trust for recognising the vital role carers play and for assisting this opportunity for a small group of family carers to enjoy a moment of rest, reflection and appreciation in such a beautiful setting.

"If you look after a family member or friend who couldn’t manage without you, do please reach out to us and find out how we might be able to support you too.”

Telephone: 0300 770 8090