A cross-party group of MPs and Peers have today launched a new survey to gather the views of unpaid carers and organisations who represent them on their proposal for the UK Government to develop a new National Carers Strategy.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Carers, which advocates on behalf of unpaid carers, say that developing a new National Carers Strategy would better recognise the significant challenges that millions of unpaid carers are facing, and help to improve their health and wellbeing, finances, and access to care and support.
UK Government has not published a National Carers Strategy since 2008, and there has not been a dedicated cross-Government approach to supporting unpaid carers since the Carers Action Plan 2018-2020 came to an end in 2020.
Commenting on the launch of the new survey, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the APPG on Carers and former Minister for Care said:
“The APPG on Carers has long called for a new National Carers Strategy to recognise the vital support that families and friends provide on a daily basis to loved ones, so I am delighted that we are launching this survey today to ensure that they - and organisations who represent them - can have their say on the proposals that the APPG has put forward.
“The Government’s Carers Action Plan that was published in 2018 provided a very valuable opportunity to improve the support provided to carers. Developing a new National Carers Strategy would build on that work and provide a strategic focus to better enable Government to coordinate its support for carers and ensure they get the support they need.”
Baroness Pitkeathley, Co-Chair of the APPG on Carers and Vice-President of Carers UK said:
“This important survey provides unpaid carers and those who represent them with the opportunity to have their say regarding how a future National Carers Strategy should be developed. It’s vital that their voices and concerns are heard. It’s now been 16 years since the last Carers Strategy was published by UK Government.
“I want to see all political parties commit to establishing a new National Carers Strategy as a matter of urgency, ahead of the General Election later this year. Millions of carers who are facing significant challenges with their health, wellbeing and finances simply cannot wait any longer.”
The survey is open to current and former unpaid carers, as well as to organisations who support and represent them, including: local and national carers' organisations, other voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, academics, employers, local government stakeholders, NHS England, and social care providers.
Click here to complete the survey, which will close for responses on 7 March 2024.
Carers UK, who provide the secretariat for the APPG on Carers, are administering the survey on behalf of the Group.