City art show celebrates carers’ talents

Jun 13 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

City art show celebrates carers’ talents

ARTISTIC carers were celebrated at St George’s Hall yesterday, during a special event to mark National Carers Week.

The art, craft and poetry competition celebrates the diverse caring community in Liverpool and was open to unpaid carers in four categories – 11 and under, 12-17 years, 18-49 years and 50 and over.

The overall winner, Karen Chitty, will have her design used in the council’s corporate Christmas card.

Karen cares for her son, 19-year-old Ford, who has severe learning disabilities.

She said: “I am over the moon. The work was inspired by artists such as Picasso during his blue period and it represents the closeness carers and the cared-for feel.”

Lord Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “The event was a tremendous success, with more people attending than last year. ”

“It is a chance to celebrate the talents of a large number of people who make a really valuable contribution to life in Liverpool.”

The theme for this year’s carers event, organised in conjunction with social enterprise Local Solutions, was “Carers can’t afford to be ill”.

It highlighted some of the issues that carers face when providing help and assistance.

Chief executive of Local Solutions, Stephen Hawkins, added: “It is evident from the quality of poetry and sketches received that there is a wealth of talent among Liverpool carers.”