Cash will be split between Carers Trust and Action for Children

Almost £8 million is to be given to support unpaid carers.

The Covid-19 Support Fund, established by the insurance and long-term savings industry, will split the cash between Carers Trust and Action for Children to increase the services they offer supporting people caring for family and friends.

This will enable Carers Trust and its partners to reach those unpaid family carers hit hardest by coronavirus. It will also fund work enabling the charity to reach and engage unpaid carers from hard-to-reach BAME and LGBTQ+ communities.

Carers Trust’s recent survey of its network of local support services recently found that only 12% of carers being supported came from BAME groups, and only 0.38% came from LGBTQ+ groups.

The Covid-19 Support Fund donation will be channelled through 16 regional hubs across England, Scotland and Wales. Sixteen grants of up to £150,000 each will fund research, and support delivery of essential services to these hitherto unsupported groups.

Additional funding will also improve support for young carers and young adult carers by increasing the number of Carers Trust local partner services supporting young carers and young adult carers.

In the face of mounting pressures caused by Covid-19 intensifying their demanding caring responsibilities, the vital donation from the fund will help Action for Children develop an innovative programme to transform the lives of young carers across the UK.

In partnership with young carers themselves, the charity will develop a new and unique digital service to provide advice, support and reassurance, a Chance to be a Child Activity Fund to offer young carers respite activities, trips and residential breaks with peers and dedicated training for the charity’s staff to support young carers with mental health issues, and help them develop emotional resilience.

Yvonne Braun, executive lead at the Association of British Insurers for the Covid-19 Support Fund, said: “We’re delighted that the Covid-19 Support Fund is benefitting Carers Trust and Action for Children. Both charities carry out crucial work to help unpaid carers who are under unprecedented pressure as a result of the pandemic and need our support now more than ever.”

Gareth Howells, chief executive of the Carers Trust, said: “Carers Trust is thrilled to have received funding from the Covid-19 Support Fund. This long-term funding will be transformational for unpaid carers, especially those from marginalised groups like the BAME and LGBTQ+ communities.”

Carol Iddon, managing director of children’s services at Action for Children, added: “Right across the country, thousands of children spend an average of 25 hours a week cooking, cleaning and being unpaid carers for their loved ones. All this with little recognition of the work they do or the proper support they need.

“Throughout the pandemic, our frontline workers have seen the lives of young carers become even more isolated at home as their care responsibilities have increased, while at the same time spending less time at school, socialising with friends, and unable to go on much-needed activity breaks.

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the Covid-19 Support Fund, established by the insurance and long-term savings industry. Together we’re looking forward to helping more young carers have the chance to be children.”

The Covid-19 Support Fund was launched by the insurance and long-term savings industry in May to help those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic and has since raised over £100m.