Carers Wales is part of Carers UK and works to achieve a better deal for the 350,000 carers in Wales.
Through our work with the National Assembly for Wales and by working with local government Social Services Departments and the 22 Local Health Boards, we have achieved change which is beneficial to carers.
What are these achievements?
1990s - Carers Wales (then called Carers National Association, Wales) worked with organisations across Wales to set up branches and support services for carers, for example, carers' centres and young carer projects.
1999/2000 -Carers Wales played a key role in the original development of the national Carers' Strategy in Wales. We continue to influence how the strategy is implemented.
2002 - We successfully lobbied for a carer representative on each Local Health Board. The Local Health Board is responsible for the provision of health care in their area. Since the re-organisation of the Local Health Boards in 2009, despite continuing to lobby to keep carer representatives on the Boards, this was recinded.
2003 and 2004 - We successfully campaigned twice to have the ring-fencing of the Carers Special Grant extended up to 2006.
2004 - Carers Wales, with Carers UK, supported Dr Hywel Francis MP to take the Carers Equal Opportunites Act 2004 through Parliament
2008 - Carers Wales lobbying successfully resulted in Carers Champions in all of the 22 local authorities in Wales
2010 - After much campaigning and lobbying by Carers Wales, the first ever Welsh law to support carers progressed through the National Assembly for Wales.
Carers Wales works with the National Assembly for Wales to influence policy and practice for the benefit of carers.
Influencing policy.
In addition to our work with the Assembly, we work with other national organisations to bring about change for the benefit of carers. We believe that by working in partnership with other organisations we can be more effective in our work for carers. We are part of a number of alliances. These include:
- The Wales Carers Alliance
- Age Alliance Wales
