She said that the organisation Carers UK had been in existence for about 40 years. It was started by a single woman who had to give up work to look after her parents. She wrote a letter to The Times about her situation and received sacks full of letters in response. From this grew the National Council for the Single Woman and her Dependants. The name has changed over the years but Carers UK, as it is today, is still looking at issues regarding carers. It is a membership organisation made up of individual members and various organisations. Kate has been in the job for the last two years. 

Who are carers?  The 2001 Census was the first one in which the question about caring was asked, and six million carers were identified. Men accounted for 42 per cent and women for 58 per cent. Women tend to be doing more hours than men. People seem to think that carers are old but a significant percentage are not - altogether three million are in work.  Over a million are caring for over 50 hours a week.  Not all carers identify themselves as such, but at the heavy end of caring the penalties for carers are quite huge. These carers are twice as likely to suffer from ill health, eg back-ache from lifting. Anxiety and depression can also take their toll, combined with the inability to go out when one wants to.

Income and finance is another major problem. Carers’ Allowance is only £50 a week, so carers who can't work are reliant on benefits. Three quarters of those who have given up work to be carers find it very hard to get back into work when their caring role diminishes. Carers UK's major campaign is to reform benefits for carers.  Part of this is to campaign for those who cannot receive Carers’ Allowance because they are in full-time education, which means that younger carers could be penalised.

One of the other big problems for carers is the lack of information and the difficulties involved in finding it. No one gives you information on a plate and people do not necessarily regard themselves as carers. People can  think that, just because they are relatives, they are responsible for helping.  Carers can find out what support  is available by contacting Carers’ UK helpline; much information can be gained from local friends; other sources are networking, internet forums, publicity about reduced prices eg for gas and electricity, and working with other organisations. GPs, consultants etc. should be able to direct people to Carers UK or similar organisations such as local groups.

Carers UK has a telephone advice line and Kate pointed out that advice workers can make suggestions, calm and talk to people on the phone. GPs get points for identifying carers. Should there be specific training for GPs? The Carers’ Rights Day (in December) and local events all create publicity.  Carers are frequently included in the NHS Review, whereas five years ago they were not mentioned.  Kate went on to say that from a moral standpoint people should be able to live with dignity and respect.

Many carers are in work - if carers who have work were to stop working what would happen?  What would be the effect on the economy? It is predicted that the number of carers will go up to nine million within thirty years. (Even infirm people are living longer). Carers UK are pointing out to the Government that if people can't go on working it will affect the economy. Employers are saying that they are losing women from employment and are anxious to get them back. Carers UK are setting up a carers/employers forum for mutual support. 

The National Strategy for Carers - Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities UK was published by the Government on 10 June 2008.   Kate referred to the Carers UK's Policy Briefing on this and explained its development.

The strategy increases Carers Grant to local authorities to provide additional support.

The consultation process began early in 2007 with nine regional and two central consultation groups with carers, which brought together professionals, carers and the general public. The Government brought in voluntary bodies and seven government departments were involved, including Health, Work and Pensions and Children, Schools and Families.

£255 million will be available in new money. £150 million is to be spent on breaks and will be transmitted via local  Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)  rather than Local Authorities (LAs), but  PCTs must make joint plans with LAs who have never been instructed before about usage.

There will be pilot schemes to do training for GPs, support for carers, care planning about treatment, discharge etc and discussion with carers. £38 million will be allocated to Job Centres Plus for employment initiatives. These have had no programme for carers in the past. Money will be available for a care partner manager in every Job Centre Plus area. It is hoped that employment hours from the Job Centre Plus will put the onus on the LAs to provide caring support at the time needed and will work through the voluntary sector for targeted support

In total, the strategy provides     £6 million for supporting and ensuring the wellbeing of young carers, which must include whole family support.  In the past the young carer has fallen between the two systems of adult  and child support.  In the new strategy planning must look at the whole family and the child within that family and ensure that the child does not lose education and other opportunities.

The strategy covers the next two to three years. What is not included is changes to benefits. There will be no change to benefits, but the Government will review the structure of the benefits. A new Pensions Act is coming in to force in 2010 and the basic pension will be protected.

The Standing Commission on Carers, an advisory body set up last September by the Government with Philipa Russell in the chair, could play quite an important part for carers. The regulators for Care Services and Health (Commission for Social Care Inspection and Healthcare Commission) are merging, which should help to give carers a higher profile in health bodies.

The strategy says that by 2018:

●    carers will be respected as expert care partners and will have access to the integrated and personal  services they need to support them in their caring role;

●    carers will be able to have a life of their own alongside their caring role;

●    carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their        caring role;

●    carers will be supported to stay mentally and physically well and will be treated with dignity, and, lastly;

●    children and young people will be protected from inappropriate caring and have the  support they need to learn, develop and thrive, to enjoy positive childhoods and to achieve all the Every Child Matters outcomes.