13th Jul, 2017

Uncovering The Lives of Unpaid Carers - A Photography Exhibition

The 15 images which make up this unique exhibition were taken by 23-year-old photographer Hannah Hutchins.  They show a remarkable variety of people from different walks of life, all telling different stories.

Hannah began taking photographs of carers and human relationships after helping to care for her grandparents who are both in the 90s and suffer from dementia.

The exhibition is organised by the charity Norfolk Carers, and aims to raise the profile of unpaid carers and make known the support that is potentially available.  Jo Phillips, Communications and Engagement Officer for Norfolk Carers, hopes that by raising awareness through the very personal stories shown by each image in the exhibition, support can reach people and their carers before they find themselves struggling at crisis point.

The charity currently knows of just under 100,000 unpaid carers in Norfolk - and startlingly, this makes up nearly 1 in 9 of the country's population.

Jo Philips emphasised it is important to raise awareness and signpost people to the help on offer because carers too can suffer emotional and health problems.  And while being a carer is certainly challenging and rewarding, the exhibition as a whole aims to reflect the realities of being a carer for someone in Norfolk in the year 2017.

The exhibition is due to run from the  18th July through to the end of August (2017) all along the Main Hospital Street of Level 1.  It had previously been shown as part of an exhibition at The Forum, Norwich.

*For advice call the Norfolk Carers advice line on 0808 808 9876 from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday or 10am-2pm on Saturdays.*

*Mustard TV piece on the Norfolk Carers Exhibition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtMq2wnQuT4&index=6&list=PL9VIpvFxEivBIm1ATlz5Ay8SP2bC1K2xv *