• In last week's Queen's Speech the Government announced a new Bill to improve the support offered to children leaving Local Authority care as young adults. The proposals focus on increasing their awareness of the support they are entitled to.

The Speech also announced a consultation on a new 'Bill of Rights' for the UK.

• The Government has an active consultation on how they can improve support for carers. The consultation runs until 30 June the year. You can provide comments via an on-line survey. The Government will us this input to develop a national strategy.

• Somerset County Council is already working with 'Carers' Voice Somerset' to improve and develop services for carers in the County. Carer's Voice is holding a workshop for current and former carers on between 1.00pm - 3.00pm on Monday 27 June at Wynford House, Lufton Way, Yeovil BA22 8HR. Carers' Voice would welcome your attendance or a written submission.

• This month sees the publication of the 'carersuk' repot on the State of Caring 2016. Some key findings in the report are: o It would cost £132bn to replace the free care provided by carers. The total spend on health services in the UK is £134bn.

  •  20% of people providing 50 hours or more of care per week receive no support with their caring role.
  •  39% of those supporting end of life care have been waiting for more than 6 months for a carer's assessment.
  •  54% of carers expect their quality of life to get worse in the next year.
  •  57% of carers did not feel that they had a choice about providing care to the person they support following their discharge from hospital.

• Compass Carers is running a new seminar called 'Transitions' with Carers Groups across Somerset over the next year.

The seminar provides information and tips for carers anticipating that the person they care for may need to move into residential care in the future.

To find details for a session near you please call 01823 255911.

To contact a member of Ashfords LLP's Private Client team please call 01823 232339 or emails a.carrigan@ashfords.co.uk