Norfolk's unpaid carers having to use savings to support their family
It comes after a national survey by Carers Trust found that 90% of unpaid adult carers across the country felt ignored by the Government
Last updated 9th Feb 2022
Unpaid carers across Norfolk are exhausted and having to dip into their own savings to support their family.
That's according to Carers Matter Norfolk, a charity that supports those working in the sector locally.
It comes after a national survey by Carers Trust found that 90% of unpaid adult carers felt ignored by the Government.
Andy McGowan is head of engagement at Caring Together, which is part of the Carers Matter Norfolk partnership. He says carers desperately need more support: "Carers often feel that they are taken for granted. They make such a financial difference to this country.
"They save billions of pounds, it works out to nearly ÂŁ20,000 a year per carer. Carers say they can't carry on doing this and that they're at breaking point. They are desperate for a break and for their own support. For me, that's what's been missing".
He told us about a young carer they had spoken to the other day: "One of the biggest issues was he was so worried about his families finances. Mum couldn't work and dad is really struggling as a carer. He felt unable to ask mum or dad to buy him the new stationary he needed for school.
"So, he was getting into trouble at school, simply because he was so scared about asking his parents, I need some money to buy this".
He also told me about a conversation he'd had with another carer recently: "I'll never forget a young adult carer who said to me, 'I really respect what NHS staff do. I really respect what paid social care staff do.
"But for them, when they finish their shift, they can go home and switch off. For me, caring for my brother and mum, there is no off switch".
He concluded by saying that the latest plans must be coupled with more funding: "We want to see carers being identified at a much earlier point. We want to see carers getting the support they need, there's been a call for a national carer strategy.
"That's long overdue but it can't be just a strategy, local authorities can't spend what they don't have. So there has to be more resources for carers. At the moment carers have to choose between their own health and caring, along with working and caring".