Carers Rights Day - 26th November 2020
Millions of people across the UK are providing unpaid care for an older, disabled or seriously ill family member or friend. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic without the right support, caring can come at a significant personal cost. During the pandemic the majority of carers have taken on more care, without access to their usual support from local services and family and friends.
Unpaid carers have had a particularly challenging time during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority caring for more hours without access to their usual help and support from local services, or friends and families. This is why I support the vital work being done by Carers UK to ensure unpaid carers are recognised and supported to care safely and appropriately at this time.
Carers Rights Day takes place every year, with people and organisations coming together to help unpaid carers understand their rights and to access support. I commend the work being done by Carers UK to provide carers with information and support, so they feel confident asking for what they need and so they know how to challenge things when their rights are not being met.
Carers Rights Day is a national awareness campaign designed to ensure carers get the advice and information that they need so they can access the help and support they are entitled to. We are delighted that Carers Rights Day 2020 is supported by Barclays LifeSkills.
Advice and Support for Unpaid Carers from Carers UK
Resources, information and advice produced by Carers UK to support unpaid carers through this crisis:
- Detailed advice page for all unpaid carers on the regulations and how to care safely and access support during the COVID-19 pandemic – www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/coronavirus-covid-19.
- Carers UK provides an email advice line (advice@carersuk.org) and a phone line (0808 808 7777) for unpaid carers.
- Carers UK produces an annual Looking After Someone guide, that outlines carers rights and the practical and financial support available – www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/get-resources/looking-after-someone.
- Carers UK has an online forum run by carers, for carers, full of tips and information where carers have been supporting each other.
- Carers UK has produced a local directory for carers, with details of local carers organisations and local authority support. You can access the directory here.
- To find out more about Carers UK’s support services, visit: www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/talk-to-us.
Having the right information at the right time can make a huge difference when you are looking after someone. Yet many struggle to navigate the maze of services and entitlements, and miss out on financial and practical support as a result.
Having the right information and support also enables carers to remain in work. Before the COVID-19 pandemic 600 people a day gave up work to care. Since the start of the pandemic 11% of carers have had to reduce their hours, and 9% have had no choice but to give up work to care.
Today Carers UK are sharing resources and information to help carers be informed about their rights. This includes resources developed as part of our partnership with Barclays LifeSkills to promote flexible working and to support working carers:
Flexible Working Guide
As part of our partnership with Barclays LifeSkills, Carers UK are launching a new guide to help carers understand the different forms or flexible working, as well as to offer practical tips on how to ask your employer to change your working arrangements. You can read the guide here.
Flexible Working Films
Carers UK are launching a series of short films to encourage carers to understand the different types of flexible working, how to think about what types of working arrangements that might help them to manage work and care, and to share stories of the experiences of working carers. You can watch the films here.
Looking After Someone Guide
'Looking After Someone' is Carers UK annual guide to carers' rights and the practical and financial support available. You can read the guide here: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/get-resources/looking-after-someone
Self-Advocacy Guide
Carers UK has produced a new Self-Advocacy Guide for carers. This helps carers navigate a confusing system, and to give carers the practical guidance they need to get their voices heard in often complicated and challenging circumstances. You can read the guide here.