No choice but to care – Carers Week Report 2024

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Michael Ford

No choice but to care

Carers UK carry out an annual survey into caring and this year their No choice but to care report was published on the first day of Carers Week 2024. The report found that 62% of those who are currently providing or those who have previously provided unpaid care said that they had no choice in taking on the role because no other care options were available – this is around 10 million adults.

While caring can be rewarding, the impact of providing unpaid care has been more negative than positive for all areas current and former unpaid carers were asked about, particularly for mental health (63%), physical health (53%), Job and ability to work (48%) and finances and savings (47%). The negative impacts as a result of caring were also felt most strongly by those who had no choice but to take on an unpaid caring role as well as women and those aged 45-54.

Ahead of the UK General Election, the research also found that 73% of members of the public surveyed for the research think that unpaid carers should receive more support from the next Government, particularly financial support and investment in social care.

Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK said:

“These findings demonstrate how caring can have a profound effect on every aspect of life and wellbeing, from mental and physical health, being able to work, or affecting their future income including pensions. That’s why we need to see a future Government deliver action across Government, in the form of a National Carers Strategy. With an ageing population, this is becoming ever more important.

“Carers Week is an important annual opportunity to ‘put carers on the map’. We want unpaid carers to know they are not forgotten, and they are not alone. Many are at breaking point, facing huge challenges with their caring responsibilities. On top of this they are struggling to manage their own health and wellbeing. Carers are worried about their long-term health, security and ability to care in the future.”

You can read the full report here:

https://www.carersuk.org/media/3dblytnt/carers-week-report-2024-web_final.pdf

Putting Carers on the Map – Carers Week 2024

Posted on June 25, 2024June 26, 2024 by Michael Ford

Putting Carers on the Map – Carers Week 2024

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. Carers Week is led by Carers UK with the support of a number of other charities.

This year we celebrated Carers Week 10th – 16th June and helped to ‘Put Carers on the Map’ in Carmarthenshire with an informative and relaxing day at Llanelli Library.

A warm welcome awaited carers who had the opportunity to chat to staff from 16 organisations and find out more about support available in their caring role. There was time for a friendly chat, cake and a cuppa as well as being introduced to two wonderful Carmarthenshire Therapy Dogs, Sheba and Marshall.

Carers also enjoyed a Creative Arts Workshop, Virtual Reality Demonstrations as well as having a de-stressing and soothing mini Thai Massage Therapy session from Services | Nuumam Thai Massage | Llanelli

A big thank you to all carers who attended, organisations who supported the event and Carmarthenshire County Council who funded the event.

New rights for working carers arriving soon…

Posted on March 28, 2024March 28, 2024 by Michael Ford

On 6 April, the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 will come into force: a significant step forward for carers’ employment rights. This new legislation will give employees who are unpaid carers up to five days’ unpaid leave from work a year in support of their caring responsibilities. The regulations have now been approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, paving the way for them to be implemented across England, Scotland and Wales.

The regulations confirm that to be entitled, employees need to be providing long term care – the definition of which is clearly set out in the law – and that the appropriate notice period an employee needs to give to take the leave is twice the length of time that needs to be taken in advance of the earliest day of leave. Employees will not be required to notify their employer in writing regarding their request to take Carer’s Leave, although they can do so if they wish to. Importantly, employees taking Carer’s Leave will have the same employment protections as associated with other forms of family related leave (eg, maternity, paternity, adoption, parental bereavement, shared parental and parental leave).

This includes protection from dismissal or detriment because of taking or seeking Carer’s Leave. Carers UK say “While this is a major step forward towards improving the lives of people juggling paid work and caring responsibilities, we know that this is just the beginning. We will look to immediately build on this success and will continue to campaign for more support for carers who are in work as well as those seeking to return to employment”.

Eligibility:

To be entitled to Carer’s Leave, you must:

be providing long term care
give a notice period of at least twice the time requested to be taken.

Quote:

One working carer said:
“Without the support I received from my employers and colleagues, it would have meant finishing work. It was as stark as that. And that decision would’ve come with huge implications.”