Press release

Carers hope for a better future beyond the breaking point

22 Jan 2025

The role that Northern Ireland’s carers play in propping up a struggling health service and their hopes for a brighter future, will be marked today at a special event at Stormont.

Organised by Carers NI to mark the charity’s 60th anniversary, the event is focused on the theme of ‘equality today and tomorrow’ and is accompanied by the launch of a booklet of carers stories that illustrate the scale of challenges carers face in everyday life.

The event is supported by The Executive Office and will also involve the NI Human Rights Commission in conversation with sponsor Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong. Unpaid carers who have contributed to a special carers’ booklet, will also speak frankly about the impact that caring has had on their lives, as well as their hopes for the future.

Speaking ahead of the event Helen Walker Chief Executive of Carers UK said Northern Ireland’s carers deserve to be recognised and valued for their caring role, which all too often comes at the expense of their own health and wellbeing.

“Our booklet of stories launched today shows that carers are desperate for a break; for better health and social care provision; stronger financial help and better workplace supports to enable them to juggle caring responsibilities with employment. They talk personally about the impacts of being a carer and how challenging it can be.

“We have a duty as a society to provide a future for carers where all these issues are addressed and improved.
“Carers UK marks its 60th anniversary in 2025 and this will be a year where we will be shouting from the rooftops about the value of unpaid carers and importance of achieving equality today and tomorrow.

“Carers, as always, will be at the heart of everything that Carers NI does and we will work harder than ever this anniversary year, to realise our vision to make life better for carers.”

Carers NI is Northern Ireland’s membership organisation for unpaid carers that champions the rights of over 220,000 carers. The charity actively works to influence decision and policy makers about strategies that impact the lives of Northern Ireland’s carers. It also works with
academics to create the evidence base for positive intervention and support across all areas of life.

The booklet, ‘Caring in Northern Ireland: The reality and hopes of unpaid carers’ launched today offers deep insights into the lives of local carers and the challenges they face. It also highlights a Carers Rights Charter that was developed in 2024.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The event at the Long Gallery, Stormont takes place on Wednesday 22 January and starts with a light lunch at 1.30pm. Proceedings commence at 2pm.

• The running order and carers stories booklet can be supplied on request.

• Carers Rights Charter: The rights of unpaid carers in Northern Ireland outlines what is needed to ensure carers enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everyone else in society. Full document here: https://www.carersuk.org/media/bb0ho0ih/carers-rights-charter-ni.pdf

• For any media enquiries please contact:
Áine Magee - Carers NI Public Affairs & Media Manager
aine.magee@carersni.org or mobile: 07506219002