Carers Trust unveiled as Co-op Group charity of the year 2013

The Co-operative Group today unveiled its charity of the year for 2013 - the Carers Trust.

Co-op members voted for the Carers Trust, which works to transform the lives of young adult carers in the UK, ahead of Scope, which had also been nominated as a finalist.

The Carers Trust was formed in April this year, when The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads care merged. It will benefit from fundraising activities organised by The Co-op Group’s 100,000 staff, as well as the increased publicity generated by the association. The charity will use the money to reduce isolation and provide breaks, information, advice and support for young adults who act as carers. The Carers Trust estimates that, of the six million carers in the UK, up to 500,000 of them are aged 14-25 and are caring for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.

“Caring is often a hidden issue and our partnership with Carers Trust aims to change that”, said Peter Marks, group chief executive of The Co-operative Group. “I am delighted to announce that we are able to offer our support, and I am confident that with the help of our staff, customers and members we will be able to make a massive difference to thousands of young lives across the UK.”

Thea Stein, chief executive of the Carers Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted, we believed that something extraordinary needed to happen to achieve a UK-wide profile for our cause and this is it.

“The money raised will transform many of these young people’s lives. It will also take the hidden issue of unpaid carers to centre stage. We are looking forward to a wonderful, transformative year.”

In 2011, The Co-operative’s Group’s staff, members and customers raised a £7.2m for Mencap and its sister charity ENABLE Scotland, which support young people with learning disabilities.