Reverend Mary Webster was a pioneering advocate for carers' rights in the UK.
In 1954, at the age of 31, she left her position as a congregational minister to care for her elderly parents, experiencing firsthand the financial and social challenges faced by unpaid carers.
Determined to address these issues, Webster began writing letters to newspapers, journals, MPs, and peers in 1963, highlighting the isolation and financial hardships endured by single women carers. Her efforts resonated with many, leading to the formation of the National Council for the Single Woman and Her Dependants in 1965.
Under her leadership, the council achieved significant milestones, including the introduction of the Dependant Relative Tax Allowance in 1967, the first legal recognition of caring responsibilities beyond child care.
Reverend Mary Webster passed away in 1969, but her legacy continued. The organisation she founded evolved, eventually merging with other carers' groups to become Carers UK.
Her pioneering work laid the foundation for the carers' movement in the UK, leading to greater recognition and support for carers nationwide.
Reverend Mary Webster