Elections 2010: Hackney Carers call for candidates’ pledges
You may be interested to know that one in ten of this newspaper’s readers are carers in Hackney. Without payment, they provide support to a relative or friend who could not manage otherwise because of frailty, illness or disability.
Carers’ contribution is enormous – not only do they give their time, employment and future aspirations to care, they save the nation an estimated £87 billion a year. But they receive little support in return. The Carer’s Allowance is only £53.90 p/w, the lowest benefit of its kind.
Politicians talk about creating a greater and fairer sense of community, yet the very people who are already making sacrifices for others are being taken for granted.
City & Hackney Carers Centre affiliated with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, is calling on all candidates standing for the national and local elections in Hackney to improve the lives of local carers by pledging the following: regular breaks for carers; keeping the Carers Grant for local services; greater employment or benefit support so that carers are not living in poverty; and help for young carers in school and further education.
If we want to build a society that cares, we must support carers.
Yours sincerely
Maggie Bromage
Chief Executive
City & Hackney Carers Centre
Tel: 020 7923 8750
Locally we provide support to over 3000 carers in the London Borough of Hackney and City of London.
Maggie, and other readers,
I think this is a really worthwhile cause. I’ve added it to my demo voting website, so people can vote for it as one of the issues I should back if elected. You can see and vote on it here:
http://hackneysouth.org.uk/story.php?title=better-support-for-carers
Regards,
Denny
Adrian Gee-Turner the Lib Dem Mayoral Candidate for Hackney said “I can assure the Carers of Hackney under a Lib Dem administration you will receive the support of the Mayor. I have worked for more than 18 years in the Health care industry and have met many carers during my working life. I also know that there are many people who care for relatives who do not claim the carers benefit and for those who do it is not out of chose but a necessity. For those of us who visit relatives at the weekend but leave them in the care of their partners or daughters it’s them and their work we have to thank as they are the under valued workforce of the heath and care services. So when they need a break I think it is only right that we step up and help as it is the least we can do. So for me as Mayor of Hackney I will certainly do anything I can to support the army of carers there are out there taking care of our farther mothers and other, as you deserve our support.”
Adrian Gee-Turner Lib Dem Mayoral candidate for Hackney