Care and Caregiving in Gateshead

The Open University has undertaken in-depth qualitative research into the lives of 15 unpaid carers in Gateshead over the last six months, in partnership with Gateshead Carers Association.

The aim of the research has been to understand how unpaid carers have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and changes to government spending on health and social care.

Care represents the best of us, and as UK society ages, more and more people will be expected to provide unpaid care. As a society we have a great opportunity to prepare and plan for this eventually.

As we argue, caregivers need three things to thrive: security, support and recognition. We call this the capacity to care.

The work has been funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Knowledge Transfer scheme. It has received Open University ethics approval, ref. HREC/4341/Taylor.