Local authority launches new service to help region’s thousands of unpaid carers
Milton Keynes City Council estimates that there are up to 21,000 unpaid carers across the region, including young carers who must look after family members who would otherwise not cope due to factors including disability, illness, a mental health problem or addiction.
Photo by Hayley Clues / Unsplash
To ensure these carers can access needed help and support, the council is now investing more than £2m over the next five years in a Carers Support Service.
The new service, available from May 2025 and delivered by Citizens Advice Milton Keynes, is aimed at anyone who provides regular care for a friend or family member who lives in Milton Keynes. A range of specialist help will be provided for unpaid carers of all ages, by a combination of face-to-face, phone and online interaction – ensuring carers get the service they need.
Among the help available will be assistance in unlocking money and benefits, guidance on making plans for emergencies and opportunities for carers to meet up with those in similar situations.
There will also be specialist, focused support for young carers and young adult carers, and for those who care for older people, people with mental health conditions, with a learning disability or who are neurodivergent.
Milton Keynes City Council currently provides a minimum direct payment of £240 for unpaid carers, as well as access to additional assistance that varies by individual circumstance.
Ben Thomas, Director at Citizens Advice Milton Keynes, says: ‘Many unpaid carers are not aware of the help they are entitled to, and we know that the majority of carers are concerned about the financial impacts of caring. Driven by the City Council and supported by a wealth of local partners, this new service will enable us to ensure that carers in Milton Keynes have access to financial, emotional and practical assistance.’
Cllr Donna Fuller, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health, Community and Housing at Milton Keynes City Council, adds: ‘Caring can be exceptionally challenging, and we know that many unpaid carers put their own wellbeing to one side. We’ve worked with local carers to better understand their needs, and this has enabled us to remodel local services whilst making them easier to access. Whether unpaid carers are looking for respite, financial or wellbeing support, our new service will be ready to help them.
‘Carers play a vital role in the local health and care system providing incredible support to those unable to support themselves. Not only that, but without these dedicated individuals, our local health services would be under even greater pressure.’
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