Islington’s hero carers are invited to make friends and discover services at free Carers’ Week events from Monday.

A survey by the town hall suggested almost a third of registered carers feel cut off. But their importance is “colossal”, says Islington Carers’ Hub’s Ismail Bahriyeli.

“We’re trying to identify carers who don’t recognise themselves as carers,” he said. “If you’re a brother, sister, wife or husband looking after someone, you’re just doing what comes naturally.” But, he added, they often feel “stressed” and “abandoned”.

Raising awareness is part of a strategy to intervene before people hit crisis point, he said.

There are information stalls, health checks and workshops including Zumba (Caxton House, St John’s Way, Archway, Thursday, 6.30pm) and a gardening group (Olden Gardens, Whistler Street, Highbury, Tuesday, 10am).

Call Islington Carers’ Hub on 020 7281 3319 to book.