The charities supporting Carers Week 2021 have launched a new campaign calling on the UK Government to urgently increase funding for carers’ breaks, so all carers providing significant hours of care can take a break.
Millions of carers have gone to extraordinary lengths over the past year to look after and support those they care for, with many caring around the clock without any meaningful breaks. This increased support has often come at great personal cost and left carers exhausted, burnt-out, and increasingly worried about the future.
Before the pandemic, carers struggled to be able to take the breaks they needed from caring, and over the last year many have been unable to access essential support services and have been less able to rely on friends and family, meaning this situation has become more difficult. Carers have not only taken on more care, but two thirds of carers have not had any breaks since the start of the pandemic.
That’s why this Carers Week the charities involved will be shining a spotlight on the lack of breaks that carers have been able to take in the past year, and the worrying impact this is having on their health and wellbeing, as well as their ability to work and live a meaningful life beyond caring.
Specifically, they are calling on the UK Government to urgently increase funding for carers’ breaks by an additional £1.2 billion in England, so all carers providing significant hours of care can take a break, and also provide additional funding for the devolved administrations using the Barnett Formula.
To help raise awareness of the campaign and the challenges carers face when trying to take a break, please contact your local MP and ask that they raise the issue in Parliament, and publicly support Carers Week. You can do so using the link below: join our campaign