Government throws weight behind carers bill

The government has announced its support for the Carers (Equal
Opportunities) Bill, writes Natasha
Salari.

Stephen Ladyman, community care minister, announced the support
alongside £320,000 over three years for a charity supporting
carers.

The bill will give carers new rights to opportunities for work,
education and life-long learning. It was introduced as a private
member’s bill by Hywel Francis, Labour MP for Aberavon, and goes to
its report stage on 14 May 2004

The charity, StartHere, provides carers with information on
benefits and services through devices such as the internet, WAP
phones and digital TV. The grant will enable the charity to develop
a self-help electronic information system that carers can access in
a variety of locations such as health centres and supermarkets
across England.

Meanwhile, City & Guilds launched a new qualification for
unpaid carers to help them back into paid employment or on to
further training. The Certificate in Personal Development and
Learning for Unpaid Carers is the first qualification of its
kind.

Both the award and the learning materials will be available from
September.

Link to the bill