A NEW strategy has been launched to support carers across the Leeds area.

Entitled Putting Carers at the Heart of Everything We Do, it is focused on aiding the physical, mental and financial wellbeing of those who are providing unpaid care.

The Leeds Carers Partnership says the strategy is also designed to reduce the health and financial inequalities that carers can experience.

Its key aims are to:

*Make Leeds a carer-friendly city - by, for example, encouraging more businesses to take part in the Leeds Commitment to Carers

*Improve the identification of, and support for, carers

*Ensure the right support is available at the right time for young carers

*Amplify carers’ voices and involvement; and influence change and innovation

Partners including Leeds City Council, the NHS and voluntary sector organisations will work together on taking practical steps to implement the strategy.

Currently, there are more than 75,000 people in Leeds providing unpaid care for someone who could not manage without their support.