Special Report: Carers rally seeks to highlight poverty issues

Carer and co-organiser of the Carers Poverty Protest group, Christine Steel, speaks to The Trust about the group's plans for the protest this spring and the choice between “eat or heat” facing many carers in these tough economic times.

Christine cares for a relative and has seen first-hand the financial struggle facing carers.

Christine and Tony Dennis set up the Carers Poverty Protest group after the idea came up on a carers’ internet forum. They realised there was nothing stopping them and Carers Poverty Protest was born.

The group isn’t short on ambition, and is calling on the nation’s carers to help them take their cause straight to the heart of government with a protest march in April where they'll hand in a petition calling for an end to carer poverty.

Christine took time out to tell The Trust about her plans for the protest.

Tell us about the march. How can carers get involved?
“Carers can get involved by attending either the London or Scottish March, by attending their own local day of Protest on the 24th April and lobbying their own MP at their surgery, by printing off a copy of the petition and asking local shops etc. to put it on their counters for signatures, by using the template letter for writing to MPs.....in fact as much as their caring role will allow. Everything that gets the message across is invaluable!”

Why should carers get involved?
“Because the issues involved affect us all, new carers, 24/7 carers, child carers, student carers, working carers, pension age carers - anyone who cares for someone 35 hours per week.

“We need to be recognized for the unique position we hold in society and to highlight the inequalities inherent in the current system.”

Where will it be and what’s going to happen?
“The London Protest and Rally will be held on Upper Trafalgar Square, on the North Terrace outside the National Portrait Gallery between 11am and 2.30pm on Wednesday 22nd April 2009 when the petition will be handed in.

"Banners may be displayed here, but we are asked to keep the footpaths clear.

"Then 10 organised groups, of around 20 people each, will walk to the East Footway of Parliament Square. Banners must be furled for the walk, but unfurled upon arrival. From there, the petition group will proceed to Downing Street.

"These two groups with then return to Trafalgar Square to rejoin the main rally.

“The rally will have guest speakers and there'll also be an opportunity for carers to be heard.

“In Scotland, where we're in the final stages of planning, there will be a march starting from Edinburgh Castle then walking right down the Royal Mile to Holyrood, starting at 1pm on Wednesday April 22nd, led by a pipe band.

“People who are unable to march can join us outside the Scottish Parliament from around 1.45 pm.

“Following the march a rally will be held outside the Scottish Parliament with celebrity speakers, followed by a lobby of Scottish MPs.”

What are your aims for the protest?
“Carers Allowance should be paid regardless of carers means or receipt of other “income replacement” benefits (including the State Pension); carers should not have to self-fund their caring role (live off their savings); means-testing and the overlapping benefit rule should be scrapped (carers should not be forced to live on a government imposed limited income) and students should not be excluded from receiving Carers Allowance.

“Carers Allowance should be paid at a level that allows carers dignity and quality of life and at a level that recognises that carers are unique within the benefit system.

“The government must recognise the injustice inherent in the fact that social care and respite are dependant on local authorities budgets and not on the service users needs.”

How do you feel about the future? Are you optimistic?
“I am cautiously optimistic as I feel that carers are joining together for their common cause and in doing so are feeling less isolated and hopeless about their circumstances and that there is something they can do to make their voices heard.”

Do you think the 'credit crunch' is affecting carers?
“Oh, most definitely! Many carers live on the breadline as it is as they have no way of subsidising their income without financial penalties, under the present system of overlapping rules.

“So with everything going up, it really can be a choice between eat or heat.”