Carers UK marked a significant milestone in its 60th anniversary year on 4th November with the final event in its national Mary Webster Lecture series, a powerful celebration of six decades of progress in recognising and supporting unpaid carers across the UK, including a reflection on the role of women in caring and in establishing the movement.
Hosted at Apothecaries’ Hall in London, the event paid tribute to the Reverend Mary Webster, founder of what is now known as Carers UK, whose vision laid the foundation for the rights and recognition of unpaid carers across the UK. The Reverend Mary Webster left her position as a congregational minister to care for her elderly parents, and drew on this experience to become a dedicated advocate for single, unmarried women with caring responsibilities.
The evening featured a thought-provoking conversation between Bishop of London Rt Hon & Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Archbishop of Canterbury Designate, Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE, former Chief Executive of Carers UK, and Helen Walker, the current Chief Executive of Carers UK. Together, they reflected on the progress made in support and recognition for unpaid carers, the huge importance of caring in civil society and discussed the ongoing need to ensure greater equality and support for the millions of people who provide care every day.
The discussion also reflected on the achievements of the Bishop of London; the youngest Chief Nurse, the first female Bishop and soon to be the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Mary Webster Lecture series has been held across each of the UK’s nations throughout the year, bringing together leaders, carers, and supporters to honour six decades of progress for unpaid carers.
Bishop of London Rt Hon & Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Archbishop of Canterbury designate, said:
“At every stage of my career – as a nurse, health official and now priest – I have witnessed first-hand the enormous contribution unpaid carers make to individual lives and our society. Carers enable people to live with dignity and security, while strengthening family and community bonds.
“It is vital that we recognise the millions across the UK who deliver this care every day, often at great personal cost to their financial and emotional wellbeing, and ask how we as a nation can better support them.
“The Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care was an important step in rethinking the Church’s engagement with these issues, and I am passionate about committing more to sharing best practice and supporting carers locally, as our Anna Chaplains and parish volunteers so faithfully do.”
Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE said:
“It was an honour to join The Archbishop of Canterbury Designate in reflecting on the role of carers, especially as she has so much experience and wisdom on the subject both from her time as Chief Nurse at the DHSC, when she and I worked together to get a better deal for carers, and as an ordained Minister.
We can certainly be proud of the progress we have made in getting carers recognised and supported but the event reminded us of how far we have to go not only for individual carers but on the whole issue of social care itself. Governments of all colours have avoided the topic with the result that many carers are still middle-aged women, who like the Reverend Mary Webster, have to give up paid employment to care for a relative. Carers are not the solution to the wider demographic challenge our society faces and a new funding formula for social care cannot be put off much longer.”
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“Sixty years ago, the Reverend Mary Webster set out a powerful vision for greater recognition and support for carers, laying the foundation for the carers’ movement in the UK.
“As we celebrate this milestone, last night’s lecture was a fitting way to honour her legacy and an opportunity to reflect on the progress made over the last six decades, and how far we still have to go. Caring continues to be one of the defining social issues of our time, and one that disproportionately affects women who are more likely to provide care (10.4% of women, compared with 7.6% of men).1
“With 5.8 million carers in the UK, providing care valued at an estimated £184 billion, it is clear there is still much more to do to continue Reverend Mary Webster’s work and ensure every carer gets the recognition and support they deserve.”