A cross-party group of MPs and Peers have today launched a new report calling on all political parties to commit to developing a new and ambitious National Carers Strategy following the upcoming Westminster General Election.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Carers, which advocates on behalf of unpaid carers, say that developing a new National Carers Strategy would better recognise the significant challenges that millions of unpaid carers are facing, and help to improve their health and wellbeing, finances, and access to care and support.

The economic value of the unpaid care that people provide each year in the UK is a staggering £162 billion – similar to spending on the NHS. In recognition of the significant and broad set of challenges that carers are currently facing, the group is calling for a step-change in the way Government supports unpaid carers.

The report highlights the findings of a recent survey conducted by Carers UK on behalf of the APPG on Carers, which received over 5,000 responses from unpaid carers and organisations that represent them. An overwhelming majority (95%) of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ (81%) or ‘agreed’ (14%) that a new cross-Government National Carers Strategy should be developed by the UK Government.

The group of parliamentarians wants to see any future strategy to be led by the Prime Minister, with clear buy-in and responsibilities for Secretaries of States for all Government Departments that have responsibility for policy relating to the provision of unpaid care. It also needs clear roles and responsibilities for other important stakeholders, such as NHS England, Local Government Association, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and to work in tandem with organisations who represent carers. Vitally, any such strategy should be developed and co-designed with current and former unpaid carers.

The UK Government has not published a National Carers Strategy since 2008, and there has not been a dedicated cross-Government approach to supporting unpaid carers since the Carers Action Plan 2018-2020 came to an end in 2020.

Commenting on the launch of the new survey, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the APPG on Carers and former Minister for Care said:

“I am delighted that we are launching this report today which calls for a new National Carers Strategy to recognise the vital support that families and friends provide on a daily basis to loved ones. I am simply staggered by the huge response we received from carers and others to the survey that we held earlier this year; a response that would be worthy of a very well-engaged Government consultation. I was very pleased that there is almost unanimous support for a step-change in the Government’s approach to supporting millions of people who do such important work in caring unpaid for their family and friends.

“The Government’s Carers Action Plan that was published in 2018 when I was Minister for Care provided a very valuable opportunity to improve the support provided to carers. Developing a new National Carers Strategy would build on that work and provide a strategic focus to better enable Government to coordinate its support for carers and ensure they get the support they need.”

Baroness Pitkeathley, Co-Chair of the APPG on Carers and Vice-President of Carers UK said:

“The need for a new cross-Government approach to supporting unpaid carers is something that unpaid carers, national and local charities, and other organisations that represent them, have long been calling for. The unpaid care people provide daily is a lifeline for millions of people, and carers play a vital role in supporting the UK's health and social care systems, offering essential support that complements the formal care provided by professionals. Despite their huge contribution, far too many carers do not feel recognised or supported, and too often caring comes with significant challenges that have a severe and lasting impact on carers’ own lives.

“Carers urgently need to see changes to ensure they get the support they need. That is why all political parties need to commit to establishing a new National Carers Strategy, ahead of the General Election later this year. Millions of carers who are facing significant challenges with their health, wellbeing and finances simply cannot wait any longer.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Carers is Chaired by Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, and Co-Chaired by Baroness Jill Pitkeathley. The APPG brings together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, alongside policy and practice experts, to raise awareness, to share knowledge, and improve understanding of the needs of unpaid carers in parliament.

Officers of the APPG on Carers for 2024/25 include the following:

• Chair: Dame Caroline Dinenage MP
• Co-Chair: Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE
• John McDonnell MP
• Wendy Chamberlain MP

John Perryman, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Carers UK provides the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Carers.

Carers UK ran a survey on behalf of the APPG on Carers between 8 February 2024 and 7 March 2024, which received 5,032 responses. Of those who responded, 84% were current or former carers. 16% were organisations who represent unpaid carers or the people they care for.

• 95% of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ (81%) or ‘agreed’ (14%) that a new cross-Government National Carers Strategy should be developed by the UK Government.
• Nearly three quarters (74%) of respondents agreed that any future National Carers Strategy should be led by the Prime Minister at the heart of the Government.
• 99% of respondents agreed that any future National Carers Strategy should be co-designed with unpaid carers and organisations that advocate on their behalf.
• 98% of respondents agreed that any future National Carers Strategy should be supported by dedicated and ring-fenced Government investment to deliver any agreed outcomes for unpaid carers.

The first national carers strategy, ‘Caring about carers’, was published by the UK Government in 1999. This was followed in 2008 by, ‘Carers at the heart of 21st-century families and communities’. This set out a vision that by 2018, carers would be universally recognised and valued as being fundamental to strong families and stable communities. The current UK Government then developed the ‘Carers Action Plan 2018-2020: Supporting carers today’ in 2018, a two-year programme of activity in support of unpaid carers.