Carers Strategy

This year Carers Week isn’t just about saying thanks to all those dedicated carers around the country who play a vital role in supporting elderly and disabled relatives and friends. Labour has launched the new Carers Strategy, putting carers at the centre of family policy, and give them the recognition and status they deserve.

This Labour government has fought for carers. We introduced the Carers Allowance, every local authority now has an annual Carers Grant to support carers and we gave carers the right to request flexible working, making it easier for them to combine paid work with their caring responsibilities.

But we need to do more – and this is what the Carers Strategy does.

It sets out action for the carers of today and tomorrow. There will be more information and advice services for carers will be expanded. Along with skills, training opportunities for carers will be expanded – and professionals who work with carers will get training too.

The NHS will trial annual health checks for carers, and look at ways for GPs to support carers better. And there will be more support for the growing number of young carers, both inside and outside school.

Perhaps the most important new announcement is about breaks.

Last year, the government announced a massive expansion of short break services for families with disabled children. Now short breaks for carers of adults are being expanded too, significantly increasing the funding available from central government. These will be tailored to individual carers’ needs to help them get time away from caring in the way that will make the most difference to their lives.

It’s important and quite right that we thank carers, as we have had the opportunity to do so this week – but these new measures will go further and help to make a real difference to carers’ lives.