Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “There are 4.3 million working age unpaid carers in the UK and a shocking 600 people leave work a day to care for an ill, disabled or elderly relative or friend.* Unpaid carers often tell us they feel invisible and forgotten, and the value of the support they provide is worth  £162 billion a year to the economy - the equivalent of a second NHS. 

“It’s vital that the Government’s forthcoming  White Paper to ‘Get Britain Working’ includes the experiences of all working age unpaid carers and examines the barriers and opportunities for unpaid carers in juggling work and care.   

"Unpaid caring needs to be recognised as a reason why  millions of people may be ‘economically inactive’.  There is a great deal of research which shows that many unpaid carers want to return to work now, or in the future. 

“However, for many carers, this is not possible due to the extent of the support they have to provide to family or friends, including a lack of good quality social care.  Thousands are in poor health as a result of providing significant amounts of unpaid care.  The Government also needs to recognise that significant numbers of unpaid carers are living in poverty due to inadequate support from the social security system.  

“With an ageing population, more and more of us are likely to become unpaid carers in our lifetimes.  This is a key opportunity to ensure that unpaid carers have the same opportunities to work and those who cannot don’t face poverty and hardship.” 

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