A councillor has opened up about feeling “invisible and undervalued” as an unpaid carer to his elderly parents.

Penparcau councillor Dylan Wilson-Lewis has called on Aberystwyth Town Council to recognise the “vital role” of unpaid carers - an issue very close to his heart.

At a meeting on Monday night, town council members resolved to support a motion put forward by Cllr Wilson-Lewis.

The motion called for the town council to “recognise the vital role undertaken by unpaid carers, both within our town and across the wider community, the importance of which has been exemplified throughout the Covid pandemic”.

“In so doing, we acknowledge the work undertaken by Carers Wales to highlight the significant personal sacrifice made by unpaid carers, and to make caring more visible and valued,” the motion continued.

The motion would also see the council mark the annual Carers Week, held this year between 7 and 13 June, to “support the work of Carers Wales and to add its name to the Carers Week online wall to help make unpaid caring more ‘visible and valued”.

Cllr Wilson-Lewis said: “My motion, which was agreed by Aberystwyth Town Council during Monday evening’s meeting regarding Carers Week, specifically draws attention to the role of the visibility and value of unpaid carers within the community and relates to a subject that I have significant personal experience of.

“For many years I cared for my elderly parents, which involved significant sacrifice, both financial and personal, and in many respects my role was very much invisible as the more effective you are in discharging your caring responsibilities the more likely you are to fall below the radar, especially with regard to social services and other sources of help and assistance.

“When my father passed away four years ago, I subsequently found myself in a difficult and vulnerable situation, when you most certainly do feel invisible and undervalued.

“Carers Wales estimate that unpaid carers contribute a staggering £8.1 billion worth of care to the Welsh economy every year, with many forced to give up work and claim Carers Allowance, which is currently worth £67.60 a week.

“This is something that most certainly needs to be brought to the wider attention of the public, in those responsible for developing public policy relating to social care, especially given the outstanding work undertaken by unpaid carers during the Covid pandemic.”

Carers Wales said the Carers Week will “raise awareness of caring” and “highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK”.

This year’s theme of Carers Week is to ‘Make Caring Visible and Valued’.