Alan Whitehead

Labour Party | Southampton Test

Whitehead meets with working carers

Dr Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, will on Wednesday meet with working carers as part of the Carers Week campaign ‘My Life as a Carer.’ Dr Whitehead will be hearing the carers’ stories of balancing work and their caring commitments.

Carers Week will highlight the services available to help ease the burden of caring, including the Government’s extension of the right to request flexible working to carers of adults and disabled children.

A survey of 3,500 carers shows the immense impact caring can have on every aspect of their life including, health, finances, career and relationships.  Two out of every three carers (66%) admitted that their personal relationships had suffered as a direct result of caring, with 60% revealing they have little quality time together with their partners. Two thirds (67%) admitted to being financially worse off, with a quarter (28%) unable to support their family properly.  Three-quarters of carers had not had a break from their caring role in the past 12 months.

Dr Whitehead said:

“There are six million carers in the UK, including almost 7000 in Southampton.  It is absolutely right they should have the same rights with regards to flexible working as parents.  The pressures can be just as great and the work just as important.

“I hope that by supporting Carers Week, more of my constituents who are dedicated to looking after someone will find out what services and support are available to them locally.”

Preeti Desai, crowned Miss Great Britain 2006-7, is also backing the campaign.  She said: “I’m thrilled to be supporting Carers Week. I wanted to be involved due to my personal experience as a carer, which came about when my mother was ill and I took a year off to care for her. I hope that Carers Week will raise awareness about the vital role carers play in our society and help them achieve the recognition and support they deserve."

A host of well-known faces are supporting Carers Week, including Esther Rantzen, Coleen Nolan and Brenda Blethyn.