We all need care and we will all be a carer at some stage in our life and we need to value that more.

Caring is everybody’s business.

Caring cuts across all the pillars of society – education, employment, health, social development, and finance. Caring is fundamental to the infrastructure of our society and the foundation of our communities. If we continue to undervalue caring as the core of our societal well-being, we will continue to see the breakdown of society.

Who cares?

We undervalue caring at a cost to carers, those who care for loved ones, those who can’t afford to give up work to look after partners or family members when they need it most.

We undervalue caring at a cost to care workers, whose salaries, working terms and conditions don’t encourage relationship building, job satisfaction or longer-term careers. The risk of suicide among carers and home carers was 70% higher than the national average.

We undervalue caring at the cost of those who may be cared for; those whose personal allowances and care package limitations fail to provide time for dignified interactions and the support they need.

We undervalue caring at the cost of the planet: investment in the care sector could create 2.7 times as many jobs as the same investment in construction and produce 30% less greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the Caring Economy?

• A caring economy:
  Has the wellbeing of families, communities, and the planet at its centre.
• Values the care that nurtures us all.
• Can be part of the solution that ensures no one faces poverty.

Caring economics invests in maternity, nursery and childcare, education, health and social care.

Caring economics supports the work and well-being of all those delivering care through provision of transport, training and skills. It rewards those who work in the caring economy rather than so many having to rely on low wages and food banks.

In the lead-up to the 2024 local and national elections, we bring the voices of women, those caring, care workers and those cared for to the attention of politicians, employers and health and social care providers.

We urge national government to: 

Invest in the Caring Economy for Carers

1. Include paid time allowances and flexible working conditions in all government employment contracts to recognise and support those with caring responsibilities and childcare needs.
2. Modify legislation to protect rights of carers to access childcare and care support across all training programmes.
3. Ensure the caring economy (childcare, adult social care and working conditions to accommodate care) is articulated as infrastructure in national strategic plans.[1]
4. Invest in free early education and childcare as economic infrastructure reinforcing the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.

Invest in the Caring Economy for Care Workers

1. Adopt the TUC Strategy for the Care Workforce as a Key Workforce including: decent pay and conditions developed with those in the workforce, secure contracts, a minimum of £15 per hour, sick pay, and pay for all hours worked; skills training and progression pathways across the health, social care, education and early years sectors; and protection for those most at risk coming to the UK on health and care visas.
2. Roll out Care Sector Skills Projects through the Adult Skills budgets e.g. a Recruitment and Retention Pilot of childcare workers established with education institutions to upskill individuals in the childcare sector in partnership with Colleges and Universities.
3. Legislate for worker protections through commitment to UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter and the Skills for Care Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard.

Invest in the Caring Economy for Those Who May Be Cared For [2]

1. Legislate to ensure minimum home care package allowances are at least an hour to reduce isolation and loneliness which are key contributors to ill health.
2. Legislate to ensure assessments clearly outline the full support that is required in the care plan, including that already provided by family members.
3. Ensure the standard of care delivered meets the needs of the service user. Base procurement on social value using UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter
4. Ensure protection of our maintained nurseries and identify the funding challenges and sites to be protected. Resource nurseries to work in partnership on immediate challenges over the next year.

[1] E.g. Industrial Strategy, Levelling Up, carer, employment, training, and regeneration legislation.

[2] Some of the support of that Disabled people need comes under the label of care; we recognize not all disabled people require care. Those who may need cared for also include some older people and young children.

To find out more about how you can support our campaign at a national level, please contact Katy Taylor, Bristol Women’s Voice Director, director@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk