THOUSANDS of Cumbrians are in need of support, because they are the main carer for a loved one.

The hidden problem has been highlighted after the county council said it was aware of 12,000 people with care responsibilities.

But it estimates there could be as many as 50,000 people struggling to look after family members - with children as young as five caring for loved ones.

Umbrella group Carers Support Cumbria has outlined a raft of projects to combat loneliness, isolation and provide support for people in a caring role.

Yesterday the group announced it had won a grant of £441,921 from the National Lottery Community Fund.

It’s the biggest sum of its type ever granted in the county.

The group is a consortium of four care organisations from across the region: Eden Carers; Furness Carers; South Lakeland Carers; and West Cumbria Carers, who will all be running projects to tackle the hidden problem.

Eden Carers will use the funds to help carers when their role has ended - which often comes with the grief of a loved one dying.

Dani Leslie, chief executive officer, said: “Some people have been in a supporting role, caring for someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but when their caring roles ends they often need support themselves.

“Often they don’t know where to turn and people become socially isolated.”

Furness and West Cumbria Carers will both use the money to provide healthcare support for people who look after a loved one.

Sue Whitehead, chief executive officer of West Cumbria Carers, said: “They are often people who are hidden and often they don’t even see themselves as carers.

“The intervention of a care worker often allows the person to accept support of some kind which opens them up for other more appropriate support.”

Craig Backhouse, chief executive officer of Furness Carers, said: “This affects people of all ages - there are children as young as five looking after family members who are ill or have a disability.”

South Lakeland Carers is looking to help 18 to 24-year-olds, to help them access adult services or education opportunities.

Councillor Patricia Bell, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for health and care services, said: “It’s an absolutely fantastic opportunity to help people that work as carers.

“The council could not manage without them and we should be helping them the best we can.”

Sarah Bowman, National Lottery funding officer for the the north east and Cumbria, said: “They got the grant because they’ve cut costs and worked collectively and put the idea forward - it’s all thanks to people who do the lottery and scratchcards.”