Findings published in February 2022 from a Carers Trust survey of over 1,550 unpaid carers across the UK provide alarming evidence of a deep-rooted failure by successive governments to understand and meet the basic support needs of millions of people struggling to provide unpaid care for a family member or friend.
Headline findings include:
- 91% of unpaid family carers feel ignored by the Government.
- 84% of survey respondents disagreed, or disagreed strongly, with the statement ‘I have confidence in the Government’s ability to improve the lives of unpaid carers.
- 49% of survey respondents said they’d had to use their personal savings because of their caring role.
- 51% of survey respondents said they’d had to give up on hobbies or personal interests because of their caring role.
Read the findings in full, together with Carers Trust’s recommendations to the Government in our report, Pushed to the Edge:
Pushed to the Edge – English version
Pushed to the Edge – Welsh version
The Pushed to the Edge report certainly does not make for easy reading however, up to date research like this is essential to building awareness of the level of challenge that unpaid carers are facing. We support Carers Trust’s call for increased support for unpaid Carers and hope that this report helps to enact positive change going forwards.
At Manchester Carers Centre we understand the barriers and challenges that unpaid Carers have to face. We provide a range of practical and emotional support services. If you are an unpaid Carer living in Manchester get in touch with us, we would love to hear from you and see if you would benefit from any of our services.
You can reach us on admin@manchestercarers.org.uk (Carers and Professionals) or call 0161 27 27 27 0 (Mon-Thurs 10am-1pm – Carers Only).