CARERS in Prestwich will have more support after a strategy was updated by a local NHS trust.

The Family and Carers Strategy, which looks at role of local carers and the support they require, recognises and values the important work of family and friends, young and old, caring for people who need help due to a mental illness, addiction or dementia.

Launched by Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW), the new plan will involve and support carers across Prestwich, Bolton, Salford, Trafford, Wigan and Leigh, Central Lancashire and Cumbria, as well as how they will work with local organisations to make life better for carers.

The strategy aims to demonstrate the trust's commitment to carers and provides details for the direction and development of local support and services in the next four years, following consultation with partners across the voluntary sector and carers themselves.

Anne Broadhurst, a carer governor at the trust, has been crucial in helping GMW develop and update the strategy. She said: "I wanted to use my own personal experiences of being a carer to help shape it. I know all too well how vital the care of a loved one with mental health problems is to their recovery and that's why it is so important to ensure carers are acknowledged and supported in their role."

According to official data, most of us will either be a carer or know someone with caring responsibilities at some point during our lives.

Across the UK up to 1.5 million people care for someone with mental ill health, which means that one in four people care for someone with mental health problems. Of all the UK's carers, 11 per cent care for people with dementia.

Gill Green, GMW's director of nursing and operations, said: "We would like to wholeheartedly thank all those carers and carer groups who shared their expertise and experiences with us — it has been vital to help us update the strategy.

"We see the updated strategy as a good starting point for all of us as we work together to influence and inform the services we provide for service users and their carers.

"Communication with carers will continue throughout the coming months so that they can tell us if progress is being made."