Carers Trust responds to Sir Ed Davey's Liberal Democrat conference speech

Responding to party leader Sir Ed Davey's speech at the Liberal Democrat conference, Kirsty McHugh, Carers Trust's CEO, said:

“Carers Trust welcomes the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to supporting unpaid carers, tackling the crisis in social care and bringing down cancer treatment waiting times. Sir Ed Davey’s own experience of being a carer for his mother is reflected in the struggles of millions of others across the country. A new Carers Trust survey has revealed nearly half of unpaid carers aren’t getting enough support to get by while the time they spend caring has rocketed, with one-in-eight caring for an extra 50 hours a week or more over the past year. Many carers have had to give up paid work so they can look after loved ones, massively impacting their finances and making them more likely to live in poverty.

“The UK’s estimated seven million unpaid carers, who do so much to plug the gaps created by a social care system which has been woefully underfunded by successive governments, will be an important election issue and their voices will count at the ballot box. All political parties must recognise this.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact: 
Mark Chandler, Carers Trust Media & PR Officer, on mchandler@carers.org and 07712 427808

About Carers Trust

Carers Trust is the UK charity working to transform the lives of unpaid carers across the UK.  It partners with its network of local carer organisations to provide funding and support, deliver innovative and evidence-based programmes and raise awareness & influence policy.​ Carers Trust’s vision is that unpaid carers are heard and valued, with access to support, advice and resources to enable them to live fulfilled lives.

To find your nearest local carer organisation for advice and support, visit carers.org