On Tuesday 10 December, organisations and unpaid carers came together at an event in Parliament to raise awareness of unpaid carers struggling with financial difficulties and those living in poverty due to caring responsibilities. The event was kindly hosted by Yasmin Qureshi MP.

Parliamentarians from both Houses met with unpaid carers from across the UK to hear about the financial challenges many unpaid carers are currently facing. The event was organized by Carers UK and included members of the Carer Poverty Coalition – a group of over 130 local and national organisations. The orgnaisations involved are raising awareness of carer poverty and the urgent need for greater support for carers who often experience financial difficulties due to the challenge of combining paid word with unpaid care and high social care costs.

A recent Carers UK report on Poverty and financial hardship of unpaid carers in the UK found that 1.2 million carers are currently living in poverty, with 400,000 living in deep poverty.

Carers UK were pleased to welcome Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security, who spoke at the event, alongside Gary Waterhouse, an unpaid carer, and Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK.