This Carers Week the Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to provide emergency funding to give carers a break from dramatically increased caring responsibilities during the Covid pandemic:
More than 8,167 people in Leeds West are looking after elderly, disabled or vulnerable people. Data from Carers UK show 64% of carers have not been able to take any sort of a break during the pandemic.
The call from the Liberal Democrats to give councils immediate emergency funding so they can provide the support services unpaid carers need to take a weekly break comes during Carers Week, an annual campaign to recognise the contribution of unpaid carers across the UK.
At the start of Carers Week, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP said:
“This pandemic has shown that we are a nation of carers. But people looking after their loved ones are still too often forgotten and ignored by people in power.
“The Government must finally recognise the enormous contribution that unpaid carers make, and give them the support they deserve.
“Liberal Democrats are standing up for carers and working to build a more caring society as we emerge from this pandemic.”
Dan Walker, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Leeds West added:
“People looking after their loved ones are doing a remarkable and important job in very difficult circumstances.
“Leeds West’s unpaid carers have taken on dramatically increased caring responsibilities during this pandemic. Most haven’t been able to take a single break since the pandemic started. Most are simply exhausted.
“This Carers Week, Liberal Democrats are campaigning for our wonderful carers to be given a break.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
According to the 2011 census, 8,167 people in Leeds West (and a further 9,183 in Pudsey constituency) provide unpaid care – although the number is now thought to be much higher. The local 2011 census data is available from the Office for National Statistics at www.nomisweb.co.uk.
The Carers UK report ‘Caring behind closed doors: six months on’ is available here.