Care England Responds to the Government’s £22.6 million Investment for Unpaid Carers

The Department of Health and Social Care has today released their plans to invest £22.6 million, through the Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) in innovative projects across the country to support unpaid carers.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, commented:

“While we welcome any recognition of the challenges faced by unpaid carers, this announcement addresses the symptom rather than the root cause of the issue. Decades of chronic underfunding and neglect have driven the adult social care sector into crisis, leaving providers struggling to survive. Without meaningful investment, many are being forced to scale back services or shut their doors entirely, pushing families into impossible situations where unpaid care becomes their only option.

The Government’s current policies have led to a situation where 73% of care providers expect to refuse new care packages from local authorities or the NHS, 57% anticipate handing back existing contracts, and 22% are contemplating closing their businesses entirely.

These stark figures highlight the inadequacy of the recent Budget, which failed to extend protections like the National Insurance Contribution threshold freeze to social care providers, while offering them to the NHS. This oversight pushes the sector further into crisis and places an ever-increasing burden on unpaid carers, who are being left to fill the gaps in a system on the brink of collapse. While the £22.6 million investment is well-meaning, it is no substitute for addressing the root causes of this crisis. Without a properly funded and functioning care system, the reliance on unpaid carers will only deepen, leaving families and communities to pick up the pieces.”

More information on the Government’s plans can be found here: Unpaid carers supported by £22.6 million investment in innovation – GOV.UK