Fri May 22, 2009 4:45 pm
Tomorrow morning on BBC Breakfast we are launching a Carers poverty charter. This is basically the next stage of our campaign on benefits and income.
This charter is mainly aimed at getting organisations to publicly back the issue. We want to show government (and the oppostion parties) that it isn't just Carers UK shouting about this. This is part of gearing up towards our Election campaigning where we will be targetting all the main parties.
We are launching tomorrow with the backing of 8 other charities and we want to build the support to hundreds of organisations. We also want the public to show their backing too.
The other charities backing it so far are Alzheimer's Society, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Every Disabled Child Matters, Mencap, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Rethink and Vitalise.
Tomorrow on BBC breakfast they will be featuring it every hour. Imelda and Emily from Carers UK are appearing. Should be every hour from 6.10am
Add your support to the charter
What it says
[quote]We, the undersigned, call for an end to carer poverty.
In the National Strategy for Carers the government pledged that, by 2018 'carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role.'
Carers cannot wait. Too many are living in poverty and financial hardship now - struggling to afford the basic costs of living, unable to study or work without their benefits being cut-off or facing the removal of their allowance when they start to claim their pension.
The UK's 6 million carers save the country an estimated £87 billion per year. In return, the main carer's benefit is the lowest of its kind, paid at only £53.10 a week for a minimum of 35 hours caring, equivalent to £1.52 per hour - far short of the national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour.
We call upon the government to set out an urgent timetable of action to improve carers' benefits and income. The carers' benefits system must]
This charter is mainly aimed at getting organisations to publicly back the issue. We want to show government (and the oppostion parties) that it isn't just Carers UK shouting about this. This is part of gearing up towards our Election campaigning where we will be targetting all the main parties.
We are launching tomorrow with the backing of 8 other charities and we want to build the support to hundreds of organisations. We also want the public to show their backing too.
The other charities backing it so far are Alzheimer's Society, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Every Disabled Child Matters, Mencap, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Rethink and Vitalise.
Tomorrow on BBC breakfast they will be featuring it every hour. Imelda and Emily from Carers UK are appearing. Should be every hour from 6.10am
Add your support to the charter
What it says
[quote]We, the undersigned, call for an end to carer poverty.
In the National Strategy for Carers the government pledged that, by 2018 'carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role.'
Carers cannot wait. Too many are living in poverty and financial hardship now - struggling to afford the basic costs of living, unable to study or work without their benefits being cut-off or facing the removal of their allowance when they start to claim their pension.
The UK's 6 million carers save the country an estimated £87 billion per year. In return, the main carer's benefit is the lowest of its kind, paid at only £53.10 a week for a minimum of 35 hours caring, equivalent to £1.52 per hour - far short of the national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour.
We call upon the government to set out an urgent timetable of action to improve carers' benefits and income. The carers' benefits system must]
