6 Million UK Unpaid Carers In The West Midlands - GMB

Wednesday 5 th June 2013
614,888 PEOPLE IN THE WEST MIDLANDS PROVIDE UNPAID CARE EACH WEEK WITH 38.4%
PROVIDING MORE THAN 20 HOURS CARE PER WEEK
One in eight workers has caring responsibility and many work part time so there is also a financial impact
on them so employers need to sign up to a charter that makes it easier for unpaid carers to combine paid
work with their caring roles GMB Congress told
A total of 614,888 people in the West Midlands provide unpaid care each week GMB Congress in Plymouth was
told today. That is 11% of all residents in the West Midlands. Of these 61.6% provide between 1 and 20 hours
unpaid care per week while the remaining 38.4% provide above 20 hours or more unpaid care per week.
In England and Wales a total of 5,800,246 provide unpaid care each week. That is 10.3% of all residents in
England and Wales. Of these 63.2% provide between 1 and 20 hours unpaid care per week while the remaining
36.8% provide above 20 hours or more unpaid care per week.
In Dudley a total of 37,974 people provide unpaid care each week. This is 12.1% of all residents in the area. This
is the area with the highest percentage in the region. Next for the highest percentage is Solihull with 24,113
people and 11.7%. These are followed by Staffordshire with 98,832 people or 11.6%, Herefordshire with 20,676
and 11.3%, Worcestershire with 63,685 and 11.2%, Shropshire with 34,260 and 11.2%, Stoke-on-Trent with
27,385 and 11%, Sandwell with 33,530 and 10.9%, Wolverhampton with 27,136 and 10.9%, Warwickshire with
59,240 and 10.9% and Telford and Wrekin with 17,944 and 10.8%. The figures for all 14 areas in the region are
set out in the table below.
These figures are in a new report published today, 5 th June, at the GMB Congress in Plymouth which started on
2 nd June. The figures are drawn from the 2011 Census of Population and are ranked by the percentage of unpaid
carers in each area. GMB is the main union in the paid care sector. See Note to Editors for sources and
definitions.
GMB Congress comprises 500 lay GMB member delegates is in Plymouth till Thursday 6th June. Delegates are
members who have been elected to represent over 620,000 members from every part of the UK and Ireland.
They are employed in every sector of the economy including the West Midlands.
Table: Number of unpaid carers by area in the West Midlands and percentage providing above and below
20 hours unpaid care per week
Total number
of unpaid
carers
Unpaid
Carers as %
of total
residents
Provides
between 1 and
20 Hours of
Unpaid Care a
Week %
Provides 20+
Hours of
Unpaid Care a
Week %
England and Wales 5,800,246 10.3 63.2 36.8
Wales 370,230 12.1 57.4 42.6
West Midlands 614,888 11.0 61.6 38.4
rank
1 Dudley 37,974 12.1 61.0 39.0

2 Solihull 24,113 11.7 66.7 33.3
3 Staffordshire 98,832 11.6 64.5 35.5
4 Walsall 30,632 11.4 55.5 44.5
5 Herefordshire 20,676 11.3 67.7 32.3
6 Worcestershire 63,685 11.2 66.8 33.2
7 Shropshire 34,260 11.2 66.7 33.3
8 Stoke-on-Trent 27,385 11.0 55.6 44.4
9 Sandwell 33,530 10.9 53.0 47.0
10 Wolverhampton 27,136 10.9 56.9 43.1
11 Warwickshire 59,240 10.9 67.3 32.7
12 Telford and Wrekin 17,944 10.8 57.5 42.5
13 Coventry 32,101 10.1 60.6 39.4
14 Birmingham 107,380 10.0 57.0 43.0
Joe Morgan, GMB Regional Secretary said, “This huge hidden army of unpaid often voice-less carers saves
taxpayers billions every year. In many areas there are far more unpaid carers than actual paid care
providers in place. The hidden army of unpaid carers consists of predominately women.
The impact of caring responsibilities has a huge impact on carer’s health. Carers often experience
depression, emotional and physical exhaustion. Sleep disturbance being just one factor which impacts
on carers. The number of young carers is also on the increase.
There just isn't the adequate support in place for carers. This is further compounded with the squeeze on
funds. It is not just comprehensive support that these unpaid carers need but also emotional support
including respite and short breaks.
Approximately one in eight workers have some sort of caring responsibility. Many carers work part time
so there is also a financial impact on them. Employers need to sign up to a charter that makes it easier for
unpaid carers to combine paid work with their caring roles. Employment rights for carers are poor as
there is very little recognition or support for such workers within a work life balance context in the
workplace. Despite the anti-discrimination legislation and Equality Act 2010 we have some way to go.
We now know that almost two thirds of people with dementia live in their own homes and most need
round the clock care and most need help with a range of tasks including bathing and dressing. For the
carer who looks after them, who also have dependent children, the impact on the carer is massive.
District nurses estimate that over next few years the number of people needing care will continue to
grow. So to call this a crisis is a huge understatement. The lack of funds and government reluctance to
grasp the nettle cannot be allowed to continue.
A radical overhaul of the current approach to paid and unpaid care is needed from society as a whole is
required. That includes government and employers as well as families. Carers week is next week from

10th to 16th June and that is a good time to focus on this growing problem. Materials for carers week can
be downloaded from www.carersweek.org ”
Ends
Contact: Joe Morgan, GMB Regional Secretary on 07794 247960 or Amanda Gearing GMB Senior Organiser on
07957 265678 or Kamaljeet Jandu, GMB National Equality & Inclusion Officer on 07956 237178 or GMB Press
Office: 07921 289880 or 07974 251823.
Notes to Editors: Sources and definitions:
Office for National Statistics; Census of Population 2011, table KS301EW – Health and provision of unpaid care for England
and Wales Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency; Census of Population 2011, table KS301NI - Health and
provision of unpaid care for Northern Ireland.
The data gives information about the number of providers of unpaid care and the number of hours of care they provide.
A person is a provider of unpaid care if they look after or give help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others
because of long-term physical or mental ill health or disability, or problems related to old age. This does not include any
activities as part of paid employment. No distinction is made about whether any care that a person provides is within their own
household or outside of the household.