Giving Care in Gateshead 2023

To coincide with Carers Week 2023, we have published a Report and Film called Giving Care in Gateshead with a public community launch event on 6 June.

The Report and Film use carers voices and lived experiences to set out a new approach to supporting unpaid carers, which highlight three things:

1. No more unpaid carers: Carers are being hammered by the cost-of-living crisis. Many need carer-specific financial support. Current forms of support e.g. Carers Allowance are failing many. We suggest what and how.
2. No more unsupported carers: many unpaid carers are struggling with their care responsibilities and managing their own health conditions. Caring is a public health issue. Unpaid carers need more support to continue in their roles, e.g. more respite services, greater availability of care workers, more support with care worker charges. Many haven't had basic training in what are very skilled roles. There also needs to be a sea-change in working relationships and partnerships with health and social services in supporting cared for people. We suggest how, building on the "triangle of care".
3. No more invisible carers: many unpaid carers are at the end of their tether. They feel taken for granted and invisible at a local and national level. Some that we spoke to talked about going on strike or walking out. While that will never happen, unpaid carers need greater formal and legal power at a local and national level. This will improve decision-making related to carers and disabled people as well as improving support and recognition for unpaid carers.

To discuss any aspect of the report or film please contact the lead investigator Dr Dan Taylor at The Open University.