Tag Archives: family
Islington home carers’ financial support ring fenced in council pledge
Mrs Willson, 71, hailed the decision to ring fence home carers’ cash at a time when budgets are pressed
Jean Willson
By David Churchill Saturday, August 3, 2013
5:00 PM
A leading care figure has hailed Islington Council’s decision to ring fence money available to home carers for assisting disabled loved ones.
Jean Willson OBE, who was recently given the Freedom of the Borough, claims Islington’s estimated 16,000 carers save local taxpayers about £15 million a year.
In recognition of their huge humanitarian effort, Cllr Janet Burgess, Islington Council’s executive member for health and well-being, this week pledged to ring fence money for carers until at least 2015/16.
Carers, of which there are more than 15,000 according to the 2011 Census, can currently claim up to £30-a-week depending on how severely disabled their loved one is.
However, only about 1,000 claim, according to Cllr Burgess, who is pushing a drive to reach more.
She said: “When you think about it, 1,000 isn’t a lot compared to the total number of carers that we know exist across the borough.
How can the third sector help improve support for carers?
- Robin Miller
- Guardian Professional,
Carers play a vital role in meeting social care needs and their numbers are expected to grow rapidly as the population ages and medical advances continue. The government has committed to tailoring services to the needs of carers as well as those they care for. The personalisation agenda arguably offers the opportunity to do this.
Third sector organisations have traditionally played a significant role in supporting carers. Arguably too, their mission, skills, and networks put them in a better position than many to provide personalised support. The Third Sector Research Centre has been looking at how the personalisation agenda is affecting third sector services, looking particularly at support for carers. Following a literature review and workshop with key stakeholders, we interviewed those working in third sector organisations, and within related roles in the public sector.
