Supporting Unpaid Carers: Spotlight on the Carers Network

On average, 600 people a day leave work to care and there are an estimated 5.7 million carers in the UK (https://www.carersuk.org/policy-and-research/key-facts-and-figures/).

The value of unpaid care to our economy is equivalent to a second NHS in England and Wales — about £164 billion (2020/21 funding levels - Petrillo and Bennett, 2023). This silent and unseen workforce cares for our sick and boosts the economy, yet they receive very little recognition and endure both poverty and social isolation.

We recently spoke to the Carers Network in London, an independent charity which has been supporting unpaid carers in some of the most isolated and deprived pockets of the City of Westminster, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, since 1991. 

Cambridge Management Consulting recognises and supports the important work done by the Carers Network, and David Lewis, Managing Partner for Digital & Innovation, is a trustee of the charity.

Nadia Taylor, Chair of the Trustees of the Carers Network, was kind enough to speak to me about her personal experiences as a full-time carer and her role for the Carers Network. She is a passionate campaigner for carers in the UK and devotes what free time she has, outside of caring for three family members, to improving the lives of carers in the UK.

About Carers Network

The Carers Network was founded with a wish to raise the profile of carers in Westminster. It now supports over 6000 unpaid carers in three London Boroughs, 3210 of whom live in Westminster.

Today, their vision is that every unpaid carer has recognition for their work and is able to lead a healthy, fulfilling life with control over their caring role.

Unfortunately, this is rarely the case in a society that fails to recognise or reward the vital work carried out by carers — leaving them feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and often in economic ruin.

Carers Network was established in early 1991 following two public meetings with carers and professionals. By September 1991, a steering committee was formed, and the first Coordinator was employed part-time, funded jointly by the health authority and Westminster City Council. The first Annual General Meeting took place in October 1991.

The charity's initial efforts focused on reports, surveys, and political lobbying to raise awareness about carers' urgent needs. A significant increase in funding in 1997, following a change in government, allowed the organisation to expand its support services. Carers Network became a registered charity in December 1997 and a Company limited by guarantee in March 2003.

The Carers Acts of 2004 and 2014 further solidified the organisation's role by mandating local authorities and health authorities to assess carers' needs and provide support plans. Over the years, Carers Network has introduced various projects, including support groups for Arabic and Bengali-speaking carers, the Carers Emergency Card Scheme, and the End of Life Project, among others.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the charity adapted quickly by moving many activities online, continuing to provide essential services to vulnerable carers. The charity’s efforts have been recognised nationally, including a video call with Her Majesty the Queen and The Princess Royal during Carers Week in 2020.

Today, Carers Network continues to innovate and expand its services, thanks to the dedication of its staff and trustees, volunteers, and generous funders.

Nadia’s Story

Nadia Taylor, Chair of the Trustees for Carers Network, has dedicated her life to caring for her parents, a role that has brought significant hardships. As an unpaid carer, Nadia has faced a trial of both physical and mental exhaustion. She has also been forced to accept an economic reality that presents numerous challenges, including a period of time where she sustained her family entirely on discounted potatoes, bought end-of-the-day from a local market.

Over the years, Nadia has navigated the bewildering complexities of adult social care, financial difficulties, and housing issues. Despite her education, extensive professional experience, and knowledge of available resources, she has found the support system for unpaid carers to be severely lacking.

The financial assistance she receives is minimal, with Carers Allowance being just over £80 a week, an amount that has seen only modest increases over the years.

Nadia’s story is illustrative of the general conditions faced by full-time carers across the UK. The economic strain is profound, and the stringent evaluation system often disqualifies carers from receiving additional state benefits, leaving them in a precarious situation.

Nadia's personal income is limited to the Carers Allowance, and she does not benefit from other entitlements such as free prescriptions, dental and eye care and transport, which are available to those over 60. This financial hardship is compounded by the high costs of essential medication and the lack of respite — Nadia has not had a holiday or a proper rest in over two decades.

The lack of recognition and support from the state exacerbates the mental heath burden, leaving carers feeling marginalised and undervalued despite their substantial contributions to society as both caregivers and a labour force that saves the NHS billions of pounds.

The Financial Burden

Due to the prevailing cost of living crisis, carers are under severe financial strain; 25% are cutting back on essentials like food or heating, and 63% are highly concerned about managing their monthly expenses (Carers UK, State of Caring 2022).

Carer's Allowance, the primary benefit for carers, is £81.90 per week, increased from £76.75 (2023/24) for a minimum of 35 hours of care, making it the lowest benefit of its kind —equivalent to, at most, £2.34 an hour or less for those providing full-time care.

Furthermore, the system penalises single parents. A carer who looks after more than one person can claim only one allowance, but a couple caring for two people can each claim respectively.



A recent Guardian article highlights additional problems with Carers Allowance, namely its complexity and restrictions placed on the ability to work. New estimates show that almost half a million unpaid carers in the UK are failing to claim the £4,200-a-year benefit.

There are a few causes for this. Firstly, many do not claim Carers Allowance because of the strict limitation on weekly earnings, currently £151. Carers risk stringent penalties if they earn more than this sum, even by £1. Baseless fraud prosecutions have been heaped on carers due to overpayments from the DWP that are largely the result of a badly designed system and administrative failures. Honest mistakes that should have been picked up quickly by DWP have led to months or even years of overpayments and debts that run as high as £40,000.

40% of carers surveyed in the 2023 State of Caring report by Carers UK have quit their jobs to provide unpaid care, while 22% reduced their working hours. Women, who constitute 59% of unpaid carers, are more impacted financially, with female carers being three times more likely to work part-time compared to male carers (Carers UK).

Reducing hours or quitting work means losing your salary, employer pension contributions, and national insurance credits needed for the full state pension. The average private pension income in the UK is £7,750 a year, but for carers, it is only £5,600, according to the Pensions Policy Institute.

“It’s a full-time job that involves raiding your savings, dancing through bureaucratic hoops and sometimes sacrificing your own career.” — Emma Duncan, a Times columnist

What Needs to be Done

Nadia advocates for a change in the socioeconomic climate to better support unpaid carers, who save the state and local authorities millions, if not billions, annually. This contribution is quantifiable, and could be included in GDP, yet the support provided to carers remains insufficient.

To address these issues, Nadia calls for several changes:

1. Increased Financial Support: Extension of the Minimum Living Wage provision to unpaid carers to allow them life in dignity, or at the very least raising the Carers Allowance to a more substantial amount that reflects the true contribution of caregiving to our economy.
   
   
2. Access to Benefits: Simplifying the assessment process to ensure more carers qualify for state benefits and entitlements; and allowing unpaid carers, including those in receipt of Carers Allowance only, free access to basic healthcare such as free prescriptions, dental and eye care.
   
   
3. Recognition and Awareness: Greater public and governmental recognition of the vital role unpaid carers play in the economy and society through a Carers Passport to allow access to basic health care, transport and additional concessions.
   
   
4. Respite and Mental Health Support: Providing more opportunities for carers to take breaks and access mental health resources to alleviate the constant strain they face.
   
   
5. Access to free education and training courses, as well as flexible employment opportunities for carers or those transition from a caring role following the loss of the cared for.

Nadia's experiences underscore the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure that unpaid carers receive the support and recognition they deserve. By addressing these issues, society can better acknowledge the invaluable contributions of carers and improve their quality of life.

How You can Help

Supporting Carers Network is a powerful way to make a tangible difference in the lives of unpaid carers. There are multiple ways you can contribute:

• Donate to Carers Network
  
  
• Volunteer with Carers Network
  
  
• Spread awareness
  
  
• Corporate sponsorships

"Your support means the world to us and to the carers we serve. Every donation and every hour volunteered brings us closer to a community where unpaid carers are fully supported." — Carers Network

Go to https://www.carers-network.org.uk/support-us/support-us to find out more.

Conclusion

About 4 in 10 unpaid carers are in poverty. Recognising the tireless work of unpaid carers is a collective responsibility. Every one of us has a part to play in ensuring they receive the recognition and assistance they so rightly deserve. Carers Network stands at the forefront of this mission, offering a lifeline to those who find themselves overwhelmed by their caregiving roles.

By supporting organisations like Carers Network and the campaign work of Nadia and others, we can all make a tangible difference. Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness, each action contributes to lightening the load on these unsung heroes of our society.

Stand with unpaid carers today and in the future, and together we can build a society that values one of its most essential pillars.