Carers Gloucestershire, the charity that supports the county's unpaid adult carers, is urging the public to help them secure £50,000 of National Lottery funding as part of this year's People's Projects.

Now in its 13th year, the Big Lottery Fund, ITV and The National Lottery are teaming up to give the public a chance to decide how National Lottery funding should be put to good use in their local area.

Carers Gloucestershire is one of five charities and community projects in the ITV West region in the running for a share of up to £150,000 of funding.

The charity, which supports local people who provide unpaid support and care to family members, friends or neighbours, who could not manage without their help, will showcase its Time Out for Carers project on the ITV West news programme at 6pm on Friday 20 April.

The short film includes candid interviews with carers, Debbie Lennon from Prestbury and Sue Godfrey from Longlevens as well as featuring carers enjoying time out at a well-deserved sumptuous afternoon tea at the Mercure Bowden Hall hotel in Upton St Leonards with Gloucestershire Carers chief executive Tim Poole (pictured).

To be in with a chance of winning, Carers Gloucestershire is calling on viewers to support its bid. Voting has now opened: Visit www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk/projects/view/time-out-for-carers 

If successful, Carers Gloucestershire will use the grant to give unpaid carers the chance to take a break from their caring role by providing trips, well-being and creative events and vouchers for holidays.

The money will also go towards providing respite care, so they can fully relax knowing the person they care for is being looked after. Others may want to bring along the cared-for person so that they can have quality time together, away from normal routines.

Carers Gloucestershire Chief Executive, Tim Poole said: "This is an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and support for our work and with the public's help, secure much-needed funding for one of our projects.

"If successful, our Time Out for Carers programme will make a real difference, by recognising the role that unpaid carers play within our community and enabling them to have some time out to recharge and relax.

"The feedback we get from carers is that even a few hours away from the daily grind, can make a stressful life more bearable. 'Time Out' can make all the difference between a carer feeling lonely, overwhelmed and unable to carry on, to having quality in their lives and something to look forward to.

"If we are successful in this bid, we will be able to widen the scope of the project and greatly increase the numbers of carers who will benefit. We urge local people to get behind us."

Voting closes at midday on Monday 30 April 2018. People can vote once per region and will need an email address to vote. To support the Carers Gloucestershire Time Out for Carers project and for Terms and Conditions, please visit www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk/ 

To find out about the support provided by Carers Gloucestershire, visit www.carersgloucestershire.org.uk  or call the Carers Line on 0300 111 9000.