Whilst MPs prepared to go on their summer break, exhausted unpaid carers gathered to fight for their right to respite care. Though their protest looked a little different to those we’ve seen before.
With more than two fifths of unpaid carers (44%) currently accessing no government support to respite care – some time off which could be anything from a few hours’ break to taking a holiday – this cohort of key workers staged a protest from their homes,.
Carers were pictured holding placards which described what they’d do if they were able to take some time off. The images were streamed on LED screens outside of government buildings in London.
Image: Karen, an unpaid carer.
The protest came as a new study – comprised of 250 English unpaid carers – revealed almost one in three rarely take respite, with one in seven admitting they never take a break at all. The lack of downtime resulted in workers reporting feelings of burnout (60%), frustration (47%) and depression (27%).
With a staggering six million Brits reported to be providing unpaid care to family and friends, the research also highlighted the average time taken away from caring each day is just 54 minutes. This equates to 13 days in a year – nine days less than the legal requirement for paid workers in England who work five-day weeks.
The protest was created by Uncommon Creative Studio and supported by leading charity Carers Trust. What’s more, actor and ambassador for the charity, Greg Wise, also took part in the event. He explained he has firsthand experience as a former live-in carer for his sister Clare.
‘I know from my own experience just how tough life can be for carers,’ Greg said, ‘and that’s why this protest is so important. Carers need to be seen and heard, yet the UK government continues to stay silent when it comes to social care reform. That has to change.’
Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust, added: ‘It’s incredibly disappointing that the UK government still hasn’t given unpaid carers a right to respite. For decades, successive governments have depended on unpaid carers to provide social care on the cheap, which has delayed the need to come up with long-term funding and support.’
In similar vein, Duncan Clark, creative at Uncommon Creative Studio and part-time carer, remarked: ‘I’ve been a carer for 15 years, but am fortunate enough to not only be paid, but able to take holiday, and return home after my shift has finished. I have endless respect for those who dedicate their lives to supporting those they love, but I’m really frustrated at the lack of support they are given by the government.
‘Unpaid carers aren’t asking for much – our research found that if they had some more time off, 44% would just want to get outside for a walk. This protest demands government attention for unpaid carers, at a time when it feels like the whole country is getting a break, apart from them.’
Further information about the protest can be seen in the video above and if you want to help obtain better government support for unpaid carers then a petition can be signed here.
Images was supplied from Karen and the video was first published on YouTube.
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