Carers save country up to £1 billion per year

Carers contribute an average of 18 hours of voluntary and
community work per month, saving the country up to £1 billion
a year, a new survey has revealed.

The ‘Adding Value: Carers as Drivers of Social Change’ report by
the Carers UK charity also found that nearly one in 10 carers put
in more than 30 hours volunteering a week on top of their caring
responsibilities.

It says carers of all ages and backgrounds get involved in
voluntary activities such as running local self-help groups,
sitting on NHS and local authority advisory bodies, raising money
for charities and helping with care services for the disabled.

However, nearly two thirds of carers feel their role and
contribution is not properly recognised. Carers UK has called for
the government to increase the invalidity care allowance to better
support carers.

The findings, taken from a survey of 1,600 carers across the
country, were released to coincide with the start of Carers Week
from 10-16 June. There are 2,500 events taking place around the
country to raise awareness of carers’ issues.

To read the executive summary of ‘Adding Value: Carers as
Drivers of Social Change’ visit www.carersonline.org.uk

For more information on Carers Week visit www.carersweek.org/events

 

 

 

 

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