Earlier this week Carers UK launched its manifesto, setting out how the next UK Government could improve the lives of 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK.
Ahead of the next General Election they are calling for all political parties to commit to a new social contract for carers – to reduce the penalties carers face due to the care they provide such as being plunged into poverty, giving up paid employment, and experiencing poor and broken physical and mental health.
Carers UK is also highlighting the fact that there has not been a long-term cross-Government approach to supporting family carers since the last National Carers Strategy published in 2008.
With a significant rise in the number of hours of unpaid care being provided, a transformation in the way family carers receive support over the next decade is needed for those whose support is now worth a staggering £162 billion a year – without which our health and care systems would simply collapse.
Based on the views and engagement with over 11,000 unpaid carers across the UK, the Carers UK’s manifesto has six themes
- Supporting carers’ health and wellbeing
- Preventing financial hardship
- Better identification and recognition
- Improving care and support
- Support to juggle work and care
- Equality for carers
Recommendations made in the manifesto include:
- Making the NHS the most carer-friendly in the world and by building in new responsibilities to recognise unpaid carers’ health and promote their wellbeing.
- Positive reform and modernisation of Carer’s Allowance and main carers’ benefits to recognise caring better, allow carers to work more, not be trapped by overpayments and risk financial hardship.
- Investment in social care to improve carers’ health and wellbeing, giving them a right to a vital break but also giving them the space to juggle work and care.
- Increasing carers’ recognition and support by making caring a protected characteristic.
- Building on the new right to unpaid Carer’s Leave in the workplace by making it a paid entitlement and extending it to two weeks of leave.
You can read the manifesto in full on the Carers UK website
