CEREDIGION MP Ben Lake has reiterated his support for unpaid carers during a parliamentary debate in Westminster today calling for greater financial and practical support.

New research released for Carers Week 2023 has found that:

• Half of the UK population have had some experience of providing unpaid care to an older or disabled or ill relative or friend.

• Nearly three quarters of people with experience of caring hadn’t identified themselves as unpaid carers – approximately 19 million across the UK.

• Nearly one third of people said that providing unpaid care had a negative impact on their health and wellbeing – approximately 8 million people across the UK.

There are over 7,000 unpaid carers in Ceredigion (10.5% of the population), and together they make a contribution in financial terms of £700 million per year.

Ben Lake MP is one of many cross-party MPs and charities calling for greater Government action in financial and practical support of carers. Earlier this week, Mr Lake also attended a parliamentary event in Westminster in support of Carers Week 2023.

Ben Lake carers
Ben Lake MP at the Carers Week 2023 Parliamentary Event (Plaid Cymru)

Speaking after Thursday’s debate Ben Lake said: “In Ceredigion alone, our unpaid carers make a contribution worth some £700 million a year. That is an incredible contribution and, to be frank, it ensures that local health and social systems do not collapse under the rising demands they face.

“In a poll conducted earlier this year, some 84% of those asked thought that unpaid carers should receive additional financial support. There is clearly widespread public support for increasing the support given to unpaid carers. When we consider the £162 billion contribution that unpaid carers make every year just across England and Wales—£700 million in Ceredigion alone—it is high time we looked again at carer’s allowance and the direct financial support that they are given."

Events and activities are taking place across the country this week, and hundreds of people have already made a statement to say I Care to support the Carers Week campaign. To find out more about events in Ceredigion, or to add your own I Care message, click here.