Kellie Armstrong MLA celebrates 60 year anniversary of Carers UKxa0
Strangford MLA Alliance Kellie Armstrong celebrates the 60th anniversary of Carers NI and the launch of ‘The reality and hopes of unpaid carers in NI’ report.
Kellie Armstrong MLA, a carer herself, is dedicated to supporting unpaid carers and the work of Carers NI who support those caring for loved ones.
She said: “In 1965 Reverend Mary Webster, who was also a carer, founded the first ever carers organisation – The Council for the Single Woman and Her Dependents and the carers movement.
“It then became Carers UK in 1988 with the Carers NI branch joining thereafter.
“In the intervening 60 years there have been significant changes. Many steps have been made in policy and in legislation, and yet there remains a gender imbalance in caring, a lack of understanding and value, of unpaid carers, and substantial gaps in service provision and support.
“The numbers of unpaid carers across Northern Ireland has grown to over 220,000 . That’s 1 in 8 of the population.
“The increase in the number of Carers over recent decades is likely to continue as our population ages, and people live longer with more complex illnesses. This coupled with a social care system that is on its knees has increased the pressure on unpaid carers.”
Helen Walker, Chief Executive, Carers UK said: “Unpaid carers are the backbone of the health and social care system, providing care worth £5.8 billion a year and yet for many, providing this care comes at significant personal cost in employment opportunities, finances, and their own health and wellbeing.’
“The last few years have been particularly challenging. The Covid-19 pandemic hit carers hard with increased pressure from lockdown and shielding, closure of services and the financial impacts of a cost-of-living crisis. The aftermath of the pandemic still remains with many services and support still not fully resumed.’
“Carers UK wants to create a society that recognises, values and supports carers. However, we can see from the experience’s carers have shared with us in this book the huge challenges they currently face in their everyday lives.
“As a society we must work together to change this. We need to value the unpaid care that hundreds of thousands of people in Northern Ireland are providing and support them, not just in their caring role but also in achieving a balance where caring is not at the expense of their own opportunities and health and wellbeing.
“It is vital that we look forward and plan for the future focussing on our theme for our anniversary year – equality today and tomorrow. A future where life is better for unpaid carers.
“Carers save our Government almost £6billion per year. I will continue to work with colleagues and Economy spokespersons David Honeyford MLA and Kate Nicholl MLA as they work to deliver paid Carers leave, for Carers who also are employed, in the Good Jobs Bill.
“And I will continue to fight for recognition and support for unpaid Carers who also need rest breaks, removal of all barriers to information and help to deal with the complexity of Health and Social care systems,” added Helen Walker.
