Mims Davies MP welcomed the Government’s new Carers Action Plan saying,
“I am delighted that the Government is recognising the invaluable contribution of unpaid carers – 1 in 8 people across the country – and making sure they receive the recognition and support that they deserve.
“When I was first elected in 2015, I lobbied Government to give working carers paid leave to allow them time off to look after their friends and relatives, and so I am very pleased that the Government has now decided to enact this proposal.
“I have met many carers, both younger and older, from across the Eastleigh Constituency in my regular advice surgeries since 2015 and it is my hope that this Carers Action Plan goes a long way to helping them juggle their demanding responsibilities such as education and work.”
It is estimated that unpaid carers provide a service to the UK economy worth around £132 billion per annum, with approximately 6.5 million people across the country performing caring responsibilities for their loved ones.
The Government is clear that these people who are providing a service for free should be supported to do so, and that no one, especially young people with caring responsibilities, should be allowed to slip through the net and fall behind in important parts of their own lives, such as their educations.
Mims was formerly the Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Carers, a position in which she worked closely with leading charity, Carers UK, who also welcomed the positive news from the Government ahead of its publication of a White Paper in the summer.
Mims was also especially pleased to hear that Eastleigh’s One Community had been awarded with ‘The Queen’s Award’ – the equivalent to being appointed an MBE for volunteering organisations – for a wide variety of charitable work, including giving valued support to carers across the local area.