Latest news with #CarersUK
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
'I am a carer for my husband, son and daughter'
A woman has described working 24-hour days in order to care for her husband, son and Buckner, from Three Mile Cross, Berkshire, said she sometimes went without sleep and was too busy to attend health appointments for previously set up a school for her son, who has a personality disorder, and also supports a husband with clinical depression and a daughter who is deaf and has diabetes and tumours on her a survey to mark the start of Carers Week, the charity Carers UK said some carers were reporting declining health because they had no time look after their own needs. Ms Buckner, who gave evidence to parliament about the issue, said: "A day can be 24 hours, literally, because I'm getting no sleep because of things that are going on."For instance, last Friday night, that's the most recent one, [my 18-year-old daughter] had a hypo, she was starting to go in a coma."Then I have a husband who's got clinical depression and a personality disorder. He's been sectioned twice. He can be unpredictable."And then I have a son who's been classed as a danger to society... He has very complex needs." In 2008, Ms Buckner set up a school in Reading where her son, then aged nine, was the only pupil, after he was excluded from other said her caring responsibilities were taking a toll on her own health."I fell over two years ago. I didn't go for an X-ray for three months because I didn't have time," she said."Then I was told I had to go for surgery and I was, like, 'I don't have time'."Now, theoretically I need to have a couple of teeth out. I don't have time."Carers UK said 40% of carers it surveyed said they had postponed or cancelled a medical appointment, while 43% said their health had declined since taking on the charity's chief executive Helen Walker said: "Sadly, caring for someone often comes at a personal cost."It can be a negative cycle for many carers who experience worsening physical or mental health and are unable to take a break to look after themselves." If you are a carer for someone, you can visit the BBC's Support for Carers page for details of organisations that can help. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
North Wales Live
5 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
Powerful portrait revealed to hail Britain's invisible unpaid carers
Unpaid carers provide care worth a staggering £184 billion every year, yet many feel invisible and undervalued, with over half (55%) wanting more recognition from the public. To highlight the incredible yet often overlooked contributions carers make to society, a powerfully unfiltered depiction of unpaid carers in the UK has today been unveiled. Created by critically acclaimed artist Colin Davidson, known for his portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II, former US President Bill Clinton, and musician Ed Sheeran, Specsavers Home Visits and Carers UK's 'The Most Valuable Portrait' has been assigned a symbolic value of £184 billion by Roseberys, a leading London fine art auction house. This valuation is equivalent to the estimated economic value of support provided by unpaid carers in the UK and comparable to the cost of a second NHS, underscoring the immense value of the care that UK carers provide to a family member or friend who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older. While the striking portrait features the face of Jaycee La Bouche, who cares for her mother, it also represents the myriad of British carers and their experiences. In developing the portrait, Colin Davidson listened to the stories and experiences of numerous carers, ensuring their voices were captured in his work. 'It was an honour to create 'The Most Valuable Portrait'. This artwork is not just about one person; it represents all the unpaid carers who deserve to be seen and valued. For me, it was a special commission to capture these unsung heroes who contribute as much to society as the celebrated public figures I typically paint', Davidson said. The artwork aims to raise awareness and promote public recognition of the love, selfless hard work, and dedication of unpaid carers across the UK. This is seen by Specsavers Home Visits colleagues each and every day, as they deliver eye care and hearing services to those who cannot leave their home unaccompanied. A Specsavers Home Visits director, Chris Smith, explains: 'Our Home Visits colleagues are in people's homes every day seeing first-hand the incredible support carers give to their loved ones. We recognise that caring for someone with a physical or mental illness often means making extra arrangements to meet their health needs. It's so important unpaid carers and their loved ones get the support and also the recognition they deserve.' Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, comments: 'Without unpaid carers, our health and social care system would collapse. Carers UK is excited to be part of 'The Most Valuable Portrait', working with Specsavers Home Visits to raise awareness and put carers' stories in the spotlight. We want to see greater acknowledgment for the true value of unpaid care, a lifeline for many that often goes unrecognised.' Latest data suggests that around 1 in 10 people in England and Wales are unpaid carers, but the true figure is much higher, as many do not immediately recognise themselves as carers. In fact, over a third (36%) take more than three years to realise they have become a carer meaning they may be missing out on vital support available to them. A staggering 82% of carers surveyed by Carers UK said the impact of caring on their physical and mental health would be a challenge over the coming year, with nearly 60% adding that being valued as a carer would improve their wellbeing. The subject of the portrait, UK carer Jaycee La Bouche says: 'It is such an honour to have had my story and experience as a carer immortalised in a portrait, which was unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery and now on public display at South Bank in London. Caring for my mother has always been a natural choice for me; and one I embrace wholeheartedly. Home services like Specsavers' eye tests are invaluable in ensuring people like my mother who cannot leave their home without help, can still receive the care they need.' William Summerfield, Associate Director & Head of Modern British & 20th Century Art at Roseberys, who valued the artwork, comments, "This extraordinary symbolic valuation reflects the immense, yet often overlooked, worth of care in our society. It serves as a powerful tribute to the vital contributions of carers who so often remain hidden.' Specsavers Home Visits understands the challenges of caring for someone. If the family member or friend they care for is eligible, its team of experts will provide a comprehensive free NHS-funded eye test in the comfort of their own home, with all the same care and expertise as you would receive in-store. Specsavers also now offers a home hearing visit service in selected parts of the country. Chris Smith adds: 'For many, organising a trip to the opticians or to see a hearing expert for the person they care for can feel like a real challenge – but it doesn't have to be. Through our Home Visits service, we support carers by bringing these vital services directly to their loved one's homes, making the process easier and more accessible.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Support for Carers
There are just under 6 million unpaid carers in the UK, and there could be many more beyond that figure. A carer is anyone who looks after a family member, partner or friend who cannot cope without their support due to illness, disability, mental health issues or ageing. Recognising yourself as a carer is important not only because you're finally starting to give yourself some credit for the amazing work you're doing, but it also opens the door to support, advice, and financial help that you may not realise you needed or had access useful information about the resources available for carers, click on the below links:For the NHS page, click here, the government page, click here, external. For advice from Carers UK, click here, advice from Age UK, click here, NHS advice for young carers, click here, important for carers to look after themselves and their own health too. For more information on how to do this, click here, is also technology available to ease the physical pressure of caring for someone, click here, external. Dr Kas provided some advice on how you can help someone who is currently caring for a loved one:Listen - Often one of the most important ways that we can help someone is by just listening. It is important for carers to offload their emotional stresses, and just being there to listen can be a great ask, just do - Often being a carer involves tasks including cleaning, cooking, or just sitting and having a conversation with the person they care for. Asking them if they need a hand is a perfectly well-intended gesture, but carers can be selfless. Make some food and bring it round, turn up at the house (at a reasonable time!), and offer to help with the cleaning. Even if it's something small you can do once per week, it can make a huge to run errands - Errands can be time-consuming, so you could offer to go to the supermarket for them or organise an online food Care - Encourage your family or friends who are carers to take some respite care regularly. Let them know that they have a support network to help share the work.
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
One in 11 UK adults are unpaid carers - and the majority feel undervalued
A study of more than 13,000 carers found it takes a third more than three years to realise they are carers at all. In the UK, one in 11 individuals provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, elderly or disabled, a contribution estimated to be worth £184 billion annually. However, the actual figure could be even higher, as research involving over 13,000 carers reveals that 36% take more than three years to recognise their role as carers. Despite their significant contribution, 55% of carers still feel undervalued. To highlight their dedication, Specsavers Home Visits has teamed up with charity Carers UK and artist Colin Davidson to reveal The Most Valuable Portrait. Symbolically valued at £184 billion by auction house Roseberys, the portrait features carer Jaycee La Bouche, who cares for her mother, serving as a powerful tribute to the millions of carers across Britain. Chris Smith, a director of Specsavers Home Visits service for those unable to access a store unaccompanied, commented: "Our colleagues are in people's homes every day, seeing first-hand the incredible support carers give to their loved ones. "We recognise that caring for someone with a physical or mental illness often means making extra arrangements to meet their health needs. It's so important unpaid carers and their loved ones get the support – and the recognition – they deserve." Colin Davidson, renowned for his portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II, former US President Bill Clinton, and musician Ed Sheeran, said: "It was an honour to create The Most Valuable Portrait." This artwork is not just about one person; it represents all the unpaid carers who deserve to be seen and valued. For me, it was a special commission to capture these unsung heroes, who contribute as much to society as the celebrated public figures I typically paint." A staggering eight out of ten carers believe that the toll of their role on their physical and mental health will be an escalating issue in the coming year. The subject of the portrait, Jaycee La Bouche, expressed: "It is such an honour to have had my story and experience as a carer immortalised in a portrait." She added: "Caring for my mother has always been a natural choice for me, and one I embrace wholeheartedly." Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, added: "Without unpaid carers, our health and social care system would collapse. We are excited to be part of The Most Valuable Portrait to raise awareness and put carers' stories in the spotlight. "We want to see greater acknowledgment of the true value of unpaid care-a lifeline for many that often goes unrecognised." The portrait, which was unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery is now on public display at London's South Bank at Observation Point until Sunday 1 June, and will be available to purchase via an online auction with all proceeds going to Carers UK.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Warning for tens of thousands on benefits being forced to repay up to £20k due to DWP error
TENS of thousands on benefits are being forced to repay up to £20,000 due to DWP errors. Households on Carer's Allowance are having fork out huge sums after going over the benefit's weekly earnings limit. 1 The limit was previously £151 but was hiked to £196 in April - the biggest rise in almost 50 years. Anyone on the benefit that goes over this limit has to repay the amount they were overpaid. However, historic errors have seen the DWP fail to flag when carers have breached it. Now, new figures analysed by Carers UK and shared with The Guardian reveal at least £357million in Carer's Allowance benefit has been overpaid in error in the last six years. Emily Holzhausen, director of policy and public affairs at Carers UK, told the publication carer's "deserve better" and that the charity had asked the government to strike off debts of those who have been forced to pay back money after breaching the earnings limit. Tens of thousands on Carer's Allowance have unwittingly breached the earnings limit since 2019. The year before, new technology called the verify earnings and pensions tool (VEP) was introduced by the government designed to allow the DWP to check thousands of electronic alerts of potential earnings breaches by those on Carer's Allowance each month. However, the DWP decided to only investigate half of all VEP alerts, meaning some breaches went undetected for long periods. This led to carers unknowingly racking up huge overpayments and having to repay thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of pounds in overpaid benefits. One such case of someone having to pay back thousands of pounds was Vivienne Groom. Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence In 2023, she was prosecuted for failing to declare her minimum wage Co-op job while caring for her mum, and forced to pay back £16,000. Last month, ministers confirmed they will invest £800,000 to ensure 100% of VEP alerts are reviewed moving forward, meaning overpayments are flagged earlier. A DWP spokesperson told The Guardian: "The Carer's Allowance overpayment rate is the lowest on record. "And we are going further by increasing funding and bringing in more staff to check 100% of alerts to help prevent carers falling into debt. 'We are absolutely clear that we want to eliminate waste and ensure people get the money they are entitled to, so we can invest in our public services as part of our plan for change." What to do if you breach the earnings limit If you have ever breached the earnings limit, you should try and proactively report it to the DWP as it is classed as a change in circumstances. You can report any change in circumstances online via the Government's website. But you'll need your National Insurance (NI) number to hand, details of the person you're caring for and details of the change. If you have been overpaid Carer's Allowance, you will have to pay it back in full or instalments via the DWP Debt Management platform. This is also on the Government's website. If you don't do this, the DWP can take deductions from your work salary, or even pass your case on to a debt collector. If you don't engage with the debt collector, it may then take your case to the county courts. You can dispute an overpayment if you don't agree with it, but you'll need evidence as to why you claim to not have overpaid. You can do this via what's known as a "mandatory reconsideration", which you can submit to the DWP online, via phone or by letter. The specific contact details you'll need to send any correspondence to will be on the decision letter you receive from the DWP. Once the DWP has received your mandatory reconsideration, you will receive a "mandatory reconsideration notice" informing you whether it has changed its decision. If you disagree with that outcome, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. A judge will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. .
