Supporting carers ahead of the General Election

Millions of people across the UK provide unpaid care for family and friends who have a disability, illness, mental health condition or need extra help as they grow older. Their support is crucial, but often comes at a significant personal cost, and far too many people are having to care without the support they urgently need.

With Carers Week 2024 coming ahead of the Westminster General Election that is expected to take place later this year, the organisations involved this year are calling on all political parties to commit to including specific policies in their manifestos that would lead to increased support and recognition for unpaid carers.

Specifically, we want all political parties to commit to:

1. Developing a new, ambitious and funded National Carers Strategy
2. Reforming and increasing the level of Carer’s Allowance
3. Ensuring that all carers are able to take meaningful breaks
4. Providing sustainable funding for social care
5. Making the NHS the most carer-friendly healthcare service in the world
6. Introducing two weeks of paid Carer’s Leave for working carers
7. Investing in support to aid carers’ health and wellbeing