Carers ask Gordon Brown for real change

A group of carers representing the UK’s six million carers deliver letters to Gordon Brown today (7 November 2007) calling for a fresh look at carers’ benefits and the financial support they receive.

The visit to No.10 Downing Street comes one day ahead of the first Carers Summit due to be held in London on Thursday 8 November.

The letters are part of Carers UK’s Real Change not Short Change campaign which is aiming to overhaul the benefits systems to give carers a decent standard of living and to enable them to work if they wish.

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK says, “We’ve had a staggering response to our campaign and a wide range of messages showing the strength of carers’ feelings.  The support that carers provide is worth £87 billion each year, yet in return the Carer’s Allowance is just £48 a week.  Carers see this as an insult and want the system changed.”

Research by Carers UK shows that nearly three quarters of carers are worse off as a result of caring.   A third struggle to pay bills and one in five has cut back on food.

Gordon Brown has made carers a priority by setting up a Standing Commission on carers, and launching the largest ever consultation for carers with a review of the National Strategy for Carers, which he has pledged will become a vision for the next ten years.

The Carers Summit, organised by Carers UK, will see some 250 carers from throughout the UK debate the crucial issues facing carers in the 21st century, including the lack of recognition they face, the low incomes they are forced to survive on and the need for health and social care services to better support carers.  Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Care Services and Anne McGuire MP, Minister for Carers’ Benefits, will be attending to hear carers’ views which they will feed in to the National Carers Strategy.

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7 November 2007

Kate Groucutt  email: kate.groucutt@carersuk.org.        

or Patricia Orr. T. 020 7592 1980 M. 07889 140139

email: pat@thirdsectorpr.co.uk

Notes to Editors

1.   Pictures are available from the numbers above.

2.   The Carers Summit is being held at Clifford Chance in Canary Wharf.  Any media wishing to attend should contact the numbers above. Unfortunately the event is fully subscribed for carers.

3.   Carers UK is the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation of and for carers. Carers UK continues to make a difference to carers' lives by: campaigning for a better deal for carers; informing carers of their rights and what help is available; training and advising professionals who work with carers; working across the UK through its membership and networks of branches and affiliates. For more information, visit www.carersuk.org or for advice on your caring situation call CarersLine on T. 0808 808 7777.

4.   Action for Carers and Employment (ACE) National is a development partnership led by Carers UK and funded by the European Social Fund’s Equal programme. This work aims to raise awareness of the barriers facing carers who wish to work, and tests and promotes ways of supporting them. Visit www.acecarers.org.uk