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Carers Poverty Charter goes to No. Ten – Archive News
Thursday 12 November 2009

A Carers Poverty Charter supported by Vitalise has been delivered to 10 Downing Street by a delegation of carers.

The Charter, launched in May and backed by a number of UK charities including Vitalise, calls for urgent action to improve carer finances. It is calling for the Government to set out a timetable of action to improve carers' benefits in order to:

• protect carers from falling into poverty
• reflect carers' different circumstances
• help carers combine caring with work or study
• make the benefits easier to claim

Commenting on the Charter, Vitalise Chief Executive Jonathan Powell said: “We wholeheartedly endorse the Carers Poverty Charter. Carers save the economy £87 billion a year, yet Carer’s Allowance is just £53.10 a week – the lowest benefit of its kind. It’s about time the Government recognised the contribution carers make and gave them the support they need. We also want regular respite breaks to be an integral part of social care packages, not an afterthought.”

The Charter has been signed by 3,000 members of the public and over 200 local carer groups. A supporting parliamentary motion by Paul Burstow MP has gained the backing of 69 MPs.