A CAR dealership in Swindon has more than doubled the fundraising tally achieved by charity Swindon Carers Centre during National Carers Week.

For six years, the Hyundai and Suzuki motor retailer Pebley Beach has match-funded the money raised by the charity's activities during the awareness week to the tune of £1,000.

But the team donated the entire four-figure sum as the cost of living crisis affected activities like the Walk A Mile initiative, where 30 people walked around the town centre for the first time since the charity's last event in 2019.

A large banner helped to raise awareness while the group, which included carers young and old, raised £588 through sponsorship.

South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland joined them and said: "Raising awareness isn't just important for us – to remind ourselves that we're not alone – but to jog the thinking of other people out there who might not even realise they're carers, who might not even think in those terms.

"It's important that we raise awareness of the invaluable contribution that all unpaid carers make to our society."

Swindon Carers Centre offers support to the 21,000 unpaid carers in Swindon who look after a loved one.

Carers range in age from children as young as five to carers in their 90s. There are currently 4,297 carers registered with the centre.

Anne Saunders is part of the team. She said: "Three in five people will be unpaid carers at some point in their lives.

"Caring for a family member, partner or friend takes a lot of love, commitment, and perseverance - so it is incredibly important that carers in Swindon are recognised, valued, and supported.

"Holding Walk A Mile face-to-face again, after two years of virtual events, felt like a real celebration.

"We had a wide range of people joining us for this event, young carers, parent carers and adult carers.

"Everyone came together to walk together, raise awareness and show why support for unpaid carers is so vital.

"We'd like to say a big thank you to Pebley Beach for supporting Walk A Mile again this year, their sponsorship makes a huge difference to our work improving the wellbeing of people with caring responsibilities in Swindon."

Pebley Beach customer services manager Harry Threlfall said: "We're delighted to be able to support Swindon Carers again this year. Well done to everyone who helped raise so much money."