News releases

Support for carers 'at the touch of a button' - new partnership to promote technology in caring
16 May 2008 Imelda Redmond, chief executive of Carers UK, will join forces with Tunstall – the UK’s leading provider of telecare and telehealth solutions – at one of a series of special conferences in London and Leeds in June. These events will highlight the benefits of telehealthcare and illustrate its ability to promote a more integrated health and social care service delivery.

Caring and a career? Not possible say carers.
15 May 2008 Carers face a daily struggle between working and caring. New survey shows nearly half of those caring for an older relative or dependent agree that it is not possible to combine being a carer with a career.

Carers UK welcomes national debate on the future of care and support
12 May 2008 Responding to today’s launch of an intense six month debate about the future shape of care and support services, Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, says: “Carers UK welcomes this major national debate in advance of the forthcoming Green Paper on the future of care and support, including the Prime Minister’s personal interest in this crucial issue.

Candis Outstanding Family Award of the Year 2008
09 May 2008 Candis magazine are looking for entries for an Outstanding Family of the Year Award 2008. They're looking for families who have made a difference by working together to make positive changes within our society.

Disappointment about Carers Bill
02 May 2008 Carers Northern Ireland today expressed their great disappointment that David McNarry’s Private Members Bill on Carers Allowance appears to have been stopped in its tracks.

Campaigning carers network tops 2,000
24 April 2008 A UK wide network of carers battling for improvements to their local support services has topped 2000 members.

Carers hit by abolition of 10p tax rate
22 April 2008 A charity representing the UK’s six million carers today called on Government to compensate carers affected by the recent tax changes, including the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

Carers keep being counted
02 April 2008 Carers of sick and disabled people have won their battle to keep a question on caring in the 2011 census. Treasury Minister Angela Eagle has today confirmed that money has been made available for an extra page of questions that had been under threat.

Carers urged to check council tax
01 April 2008 With Council Tax bills for 2008 about to issued Carers UK is urging carers to make sure they are paying the correct amount. It is not widely publicised but some carers could qualify for up to 50% off their council tax bills.

Carers of disabled children win legal duty to breaks
19 March 2008 Carers UK welcomes and congratulates the success of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign in securing new legal duties on local authorities to help parents caring for disabled children by giving them breaks from their caring responsibilities.

Carers UK welcomes Select Committee inquiry into the DWP's approach to carers
29 February 2008 Carers UK has welcomed the announcement of an inquiry into the Department for Work and Pensions’ approach to carers, which will cover information and advice, income and benefits, employment and training, equality and recognition.

Carers UK campaign round up
11 February 2008 February 2008: A snapshot of our campaigning over the past few months and how it is making a real difference to carers' lives.

Don't let them con you
05 February 2008 Carers UK is backing Scams Awareness Month - a new campaign to highlight the plight of elderly victims who suffer in silence. Scams Awareness Month 2008 is set to raise awareness of mass marketed scams, which cost the UK public £3.5billion a year.

Background to to the Coleman case
31 January 2008 Find out the background to the landmark case which could lead to new rights for millions of carers.

Carers UK hails landmark case as millions of carers get protection at work
31 January 2008 A carer has won the initial stages of her case at the European Court of Justice which could give new rights to millions of carers.

Carers UK’s response to CSCI’s third annual State of Social Care Report 2006-2007
29 January 2008 Responding to today’s report, Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK says: “Today’s report from Commission for Social Care Inspection highlights the harsh experiences of people who are not eligible for state-supported social care and the heavy strain that this places on families and carers."

Care eligibility rules are 'inconsistent'
29 January 2008 The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) has published its annual report on the state of social care in England. The report says there are inconsistencies in how councils decide who gets help and how much they get.

Right Care Right deal - the right solution for social care
25 January 2008 Two thirds of people won't put money aside for social care, according to new research. Leading charities launch new campaign on future of social care.

Liberal Democrats propose new rights for carers
22 January 2008 The Liberal Democrat Party today published a Policy Paper 'Empowerment, Fairness and Quality in Health Care' which includes proposals to overhaul health and social care services and offer more support to carers

Lottery Award to help carers
15 January 2008 Carers UK has been awarded a five-year grant of £488,434 to help support CarersLine – it’s free information helpline for carers. The award was made by the Big Lottery Fund through its’ Advice Plus Programme.

Carers tell Prime Minister “it’s time to deliver”
11 January 2008 The Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson today (Friday 11 January 2008) attended a consultation event in Leeds organised by Carers UK and the Department of Health

Carers UK welcomes Caring Choices report
07 January 2008 Carers UK has welcomed the launch today of a new report, “The Future of Care Funding: Time for a change”, published by the Caring Choices initiative.

Carers UK backs ippr report
23 December 2007 Carers UK has welcomed the launch today of ippr’s report: “Care in a new welfare society: Unpaid care, welfare and employment”.

Carers UK welcomes personalised care
10 December 2007 Carers UK has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a move to a personalised system of care provision, initially for older people, to be rolled out from next April with £520m funding over 3 years.

Carers lose £11,000 a year in earnings
07 December 2007 New statistics, published to coincide with Carers UK’s Carers Rights Day, Friday 7 December 2007, show that the average loss in earnings last year by carers who had either to give up their job, reduce their hours or take a more junior position in order to care for sick, frail or disabled relatives or partners, was £11,050.

Celebrity Auction for Carers UK
03 December 2007 A star studded line up of actors, musicians, comedians, poets and broadcasters have contributed signed postcards for an auction taking place on E bay to benefit Carers UK. The signed postcards include David Walliams & Matt Lucas from Little Britain, Dame Helen Mirren, Doctor Who David Tennant and Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant along side many many more.

Carers UK's position on the Health and Social Care Bill
26 November 2007 The Health and Social Care Bill receives its Second Reading today in the House of Commons. Read Carers UK's reaction to the Bill.

Runner up as most admired charity
25 November 2007 Carers UK has come runner up in Third Sector's awards for the Britain's most admired charity.

Carers UK spells out its new social contract for carers
21 November 2007 A ground-breaking new study released today (Wednesday 21 November 2007) by Carers UK sets out the design of a new social contract for care which would revolutionise the way care is delivered in the 21st century.

Carers ask Gordon Brown for real change
07 November 2007 Ahead of first Carers Summit, carers deliver thousands of letters to Downing Street demanding reform of carers’ benefits.

Carers UK reaction to the Queen's speech
07 November 2007

Carers UK's campaigning recognised
24 October 2007 Ed Miliband MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has given a speech in Parliament where he held up Carers UK as an example of how charities can be powerful advocates for social change.

New book on history of the carers' movement
24 October 2007 Author Tim Cook has written 'The History of the Carers' Movement' which charts the key events and achievements throughout the last 40 years. The book was launched at an event in the House of Lords

When caring comes to an end - new resource launched
22 October 2007 Carers UK and Help the Hospices have today launched a new publication for carers whose responsibilties are changing.

Social care system is failing four million working age carers
10 October 2007 Care services are failing Britain’s four million working age carers, making it harder or even impossible for them to hold down a job, according to one of the largest in-depth surveys of carers commissioned by Carers UK.

Carers UK welcomes CSR announcement for carers
09 October 2007 Carers UK today welcomed the Chancellor’s CSR announcement increasing social care spending and called upon Government to take stronger steps to ensure that the NHS treats carers as partners in care.[1]

Millions of carers anxiously await outcome of landmark employment case
09 October 2007 Carers UK, and the millions of carers that it represents, are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the landmark employment case that is being heard by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg today (9.10.07), which could radically reform how carers are treated in the workplace.

Carers UK campaign round up
08 October 2007 October 2007: A snapshot of our campaigning over the past few months and how it is making a real difference to carers' lives.

Carers UK at Labour Party Conference
01 October 2007 Can we meet the costs of long term care? Carers UK took part in a 'fringe' event debate organised by the Caring Choices coalition about the future shape of the social care system.

Carers UK welcomes rise in earnings limit on main carer’s benefit
20 September 2007 Carers UK welcomed the Government’s announcement that the earnings limit on Carer’s Allowance is set to rise to £95 on 1 October 2007, after listening to Carers UK’s concerns that carers were losing out because of rises in the National Minimum Wage.

Carers save UK £87 billion per year
20 September 2007 New report shows 52 per cent increase in value of unpaid care – more than total annual spend on NHS

Carers UK Believes Telecare is Key to the Future of Social Care
06 September 2007 Leading UK charity outlines how telecare technology can radically transform and improve the lives of our six million carers, and those they care for.

Carers UK response to Gordon Brown's announcement
03 September 2007 Carers UK has welcomed Gordon Brown's announcement of a new Standing Commission on Carers. Read Carers UK's response.

Prime Minister's announces new standing commission on carers
03 September 2007 The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has today announced a new standing commission on carers. Read an extract from his speech.

Carers UK campaign round up
09 August 2007 August 2007: A snapshot of our campaigning over the past few months and how it is making a real difference to carers' lives.

Alison Steadman's appeal for carers
09 August 2007 Award winning actress Alison Steadman has recorded a fundraising appeal on behalf of Carers UK.

Carers UK statement on Breakthrough Britain
11 July 2007 A Conservative Party think-tank has published a report called 'Breakthrough Britain' which contains a number of recommendations on how to support the UK's 6 million carers. Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK responds to the report findings:

Carers UK welcomes new Ministers following Gordon Brown's re-shuffle
03 July 2007 One of Gordon Brown’s first tasks on taking over as Prime Minister was to reshuffle his Cabinet and junior Ministers. Carers UK will be writing to the new Minsters to welcome them to their new jobs asking them to make carers a top priority.

Grant success set to help carers.
15 June 2007 Carers UK is delighted to have been awarded a major grant from the Big Lottery Fund for CarersLine - our advice and information service.

Carers UK reaction to elder abuse report
14 June 2007 Commenting on the UK Study of Abuse and Neglect, Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK said: "This is the first in-depth study of elder abuse that has been undertaken and it challenges some of the prejudices that people have that domestic abuse stops when someone gets older.

New Deal for Carers - make your voice count
13 June 2007 Details of a huge national debate on how to improve the future of the nation's six million carers were released today by Care Services Minister, Ivan Lewis.

New European movement for carers
12 June 2007 Carers’ organisations are to lobby Commission and MEPs for greater support. Eurocarers – a new platform for carers within the European Union – is to be launched on Tuesday 12 June in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Relationships put to test under strain of caring
11 June 2007 A new, in-depth survey of 3,500 carers has uncovered the negative impact that their role can have on the relationship they enjoy with their partner. Six in 10 of those questioned admitted that their sex lives had taken a back seat as a direct result of their caring responsibilites.

Help for new carers
07 June 2007 An essential new booklet to help those who have recently become a carer is published today (Thursday 7 June) by Carers UK.

Carers being sold short
30 May 2007 New Carers UK report, Real change, not short change, presses for full review of incomes and services for carers and their families

Carers urged to join new campaign
30 May 2007 Carers UK is urging carers, their friends and families to sign up to their new campaign, Real change, not short change, to secure a better deal for carers from Government.

Carers UK campaign round up
29 May 2007 May 2007 : A snapshot of our campaigning over the past few months and how it is making a real difference to carers' lives.

Carers UK welcomes funds for disabled children
21 May 2007 Today Carers UK gave its firm support for a new announcement by Treasury Minister, Ed Balls, that £340 million more would be spent on disabled children.

Caring choices
26 April 2007 Carers UK is supporting a coalition calling for a major public debate on the future of long term care funding. One in five of the UK population will develop long term care needs, yet the care system is still not fit for future generations, says the new 15-strong coalition.

Carers UK prepares employers for new workplace rights
29 March 2007 New advice to help employers benefit from new law for carers.

Failure to invest is widening inequality
14 February 2007 Failure to invest in support for families is driving millions into poverty and, unless urgently reformed, will create new patterns of widening inequality and disadvantage that Britain can ill-afford. That's the message being delivered today by Sir Bert Massie, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), and backed by Carers UK.

Breaks Bill needs your support
19 January 2007 Carers UK is calling on all carers to support the Disabled Children (Short Breaks) Bill which, if passed, would give parents of disabled children the right to a break from caring.

Carers UK campaign round up
15 January 2007 January 2007 : Find out what recent work Carers UK has been doing on the five key campaign areas that our members have said are important.

"My respite care has been cut"
10 January 2007 Carers UK trustee Linda Wisbach cares for her husband and is a part-time civil servant. She has seen vital services cut.

CSCI report 'The State of Social Care in England 2005/06' : what does it say?
10 January 2007 CSCI (the inspectorate for social care in England) have published a report about the state of social care which says that councils are restricting social care services and it is families and carers that are having to take the strain.

Special report : Cuts to local services
02 January 2007 For many carers a few hours respite care is the only break they get from caring. Yet increasingly, callers to Carers UK’s CarersLine service are saying services for the people they care for are being cut back.

Interview : Standing up for carers
15 December 2006 Norman Gardner believes carers deserve a better deal. On December 14th 2006 Norman stood in the Skerton West by-election as an independent ‘carer representative’ candidate, campaigning for a more caring community. Although he didn't win Norman polled around 10% of the vote, roughly equivilent to the percentage of carers in the population. Prior to the election he spoke to Carers UK about why he felt he should stand up for carers.

The Queen's speech - Carers UK response
15 November 2006 The State Opening of Parliament for 2006/07 took place on 15th November 2006. In her speech, the Queen sets out the Bills that the government is going to introduce during the next year. Some of bills will have an impact on carers.

Carers UK response to DTI announcement on flexible working regulations
09 November 2006 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) today (Thursday 9 November 2006) announces the definition of carers that will be used in the Work and Families Act. The Act gives carers a groundbreaking new right to request flexible working from their employer, and will come into effect in April 2007. Until today it has been unclear which carers were to be included under this legislation

Flu jabs : update for carers
09 October 2006 This year due to critical vaccine shortages the government have amended their guidance on who can get flu jabs.

Every Disabled Child Matters
09 October 2006 Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) is a new campaign for all disabled children and their families to have the right to the services and support they need to live ordinary lives.

New figures show carers in low level jobs
26 September 2006 As Minister Ivan Lewis addresses a Carers UK fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference a new report published today by Carers UK shows that carers who provide more than 20 hours of care a week are clustered in low level, low paid jobs.

Expecting to be cared for
13 July 2006 The British public expect support from social care agencies to enable them to live at home in the advent of a disability or long-term health condition, according to an Ipsos MORI survey commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), the Equal Opportunities Commission and Carers UK. However their expectations don't match the reality of social care.

Carers UK backs new Independent Living Bill
08 June 2006 Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK hailed today's publication of the new Independent Living Bill has a vital step forward for disabled people's and carers rights and urged Parliamentarians to support this Private Members' Bill.

Carers UK backs Wanless call for new funding system for social care
30 March 2006 Carers UK today welcomed the new review of social care published by the Kings Fund which called for sharp increases in funding of social care and an overhaul of the current means-testing funding system.

Carers in crisis forced to cope alone
27 January 2005 The issue of carers being forced to cope alone in an emergency is vividly depicted in a new survey undertaken by Carers UK. Called Back Me Up – supporting carers when they need it most, the report draws on the stories of some 1,207 carers who describe in their own words a crisis situation and how it affected their lives, sometimes with devastating consequences.