Call for emergency funding to give unpaid carers in Newcastle a break

This Carers Week the Liberal Democrats in Newcastle and nationally are calling on the Government to provide emergency funding to give carers a break from dramatically increased caring responsibilities during the Covid pandemic:

More than 25,000 people in Newcastle are looking after elderly, disabled or vulnerable people. Data from Carers UK shows 64% of carers have not been able to take any sort of a break during the pandemic.

The call from the Liberal Democrats to give councils immediate emergency funding so they can provide the support services unpaid carers need to take a weekly break comes during Carers Week, an annual campaign to recognise the contribution of unpaid carers across the UK.

Cllr Dr WENDY TAYLOR, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson for Newcastle said:

"People in Newcastle looking after their loved ones are doing a remarkable and important job in very difficult circumstances.

"Newcastle's unpaid carers have taken on dramatically increased caring responsibilities during this pandemic. Most haven't been able to take a single break since the pandemic started. Most are simply exhausted.

"This Carers Week, Liberal Democrats are campaigning for our wonderful carers in Newcastle to be given a break."

At the start of Carers Week, Liberal Democrats Leader Ed Davey MP (seen here with Wendy Tayor) said:

"This pandemic has shown that we are a nation of carers. But people looking after their loved ones are still too often forgotten and ignored by people in power.

"The Government must finally recognise the enormous contribution that unpaid carers make, and give them the support they deserve.

"Liberal Democrats are standing up for carers and working to build a more caring society as we emerge from this pandemic."