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.