THIS year’s Carers Week is taking place until Sunday. This is always one of the most welcome and important in the annual calendar of awareness weeks and one I am always keen to support and help promote.

It provides the opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the crucial role of unpaid carers across the UK. It is also a chance to thank them for their immense contribution to society and for all they do throughout the year, caring for and supporting their loved ones.

This year’s theme is ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community’. Each day of the week, carers organisations have been focusing on different issues, including health and social care, work and employment, younger and older carers, and mental wellbeing.

READ MORE: Martin Whitfield MSP column: County's generosity shining through

A key part of the week this year is a call for carers, and anyone else who wants to show their support, to visit the Carers Week website and say ‘I CARE’. The intention is for these messages of support to help recognise their caring role and raise awareness of the realities of caring. Visit carersweek.org to show your support.

Another key awareness week, Volunteers’ Week, came to an end yesterday (Wednesday). Volunteering is so important to the fabric of our society, but all too often volunteers do not receive the recognition they deserve.

That is why Volunteers’ Week is so important to help highlight the crucial contribution made by volunteers in countless organisations, activities and events.

I was pleased to participate this year by presenting one of the awards at Volunteer Centre East Lothian’s brilliant Inspiring Volunteer Awards at The Fraser Centre. All those nominated were genuinely inspiring and the ceremony was a testament to the significant difference volunteers make. Well done to VCEL and all the nominees.