West Midlands Mayor Hears First-Hand How Unpaid Caring Impacts Working Lives
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker visited Forward Carers to meet unpaid Carers from across the region, hear their personal experiences and learn more about the challenges they face, particularly when balancing caring responsibilities with employment.
We were delighted to welcome Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, to our Forward Carers office, where he had the opportunity to learn more about our work supporting unpaid Carers and our commitment to creating Carer Friendly Communities.
Most importantly, the visit gave unpaid Carers a valuable opportunity to share their experiences directly with the Mayor, highlighting both the challenges of caring and the enormous contribution Carers make to families, communities and the wider economy.
We invited Carer representatives from Birmingham, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell to share their stories. Richard was particularly keen to understand how caring responsibilities had affected their careers, financial security and personal wellbeing.
The Hidden Impact of Caring on Employment
The visit came just a day after Carers UK released new research highlighting the significant impact unpaid caring has on employment.
An estimated 1.1 million people have left employment to provide unpaid care over the past two years – equivalent to 1,500 people every day. The research also revealed that one in five UK employees (20%) now has a caring responsibility.
These figures reflect the difficult decisions many Carers face, often having to reduce their working hours, put their careers on hold or leave employment altogether to support someone they love.
For the Carers meeting the Mayor, these statistics were more than just numbers. They reflected their own lived experiences.
Anne, a Birmingham Carer, shared how she had to leave her career as a primary school teacher to care for her two disabled children.
Angela, from Sandwell, spoke about sacrificing her promising career as a headteacher to care for family members.
Alun, from Walsall, explained how he had to leave his nursing career to become a full-time Carer for his wife.
Marilyn also shared her experience of leaving her job with a pharmaceutical company after her husband was diagnosed with dementia.
Each story highlighted the personal, professional and financial sacrifices unpaid Carers make, often with little recognition.
Alun’s Story: From NHS Nurse to Full-Time Carer
Alun spoke openly with the Mayor about how becoming his wife’s full-time Carer changed his family’s life.
Alun said:
“My wife became ill about 20 years ago and eventually had to leave her job. It’s a chronic condition, so there are days when she needs a lot of care and days she doesn’t need so much. It had a massive effect on our lives, especially when our two children were growing up.
“They took on the role of young carers and I tried to make sure they didn’t miss out on their childhood. Family and friends were also happy to help. When I eventually had to give up work myself to care for her full time, we went from two wages to no wage and that hit us financially. There’s also the social isolation and the benefits system is tricky and stressful to navigate.
“I was proud to be a nurse but it can hit you hard when it’s suddenly you on the receiving end of care. Forward Carers have been really good. As well as the advice there’s also peer support. I go to a men’s group where we chat about football and music, help each other, and there’s also days out too.”
Alun’s experience highlights how caring can affect the whole family, from financial pressures and social isolation to the impact on children who take on caring responsibilities themselves.
It also demonstrates the importance of having access to advice, understanding and opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences.
Recognising the Contribution of Unpaid Carers
Following his conversations with Carers and the Forward Carers team, Mayor Richard Parker acknowledged the importance of recognising and supporting those who provide unpaid care.
The Mayor said:
“Thousands of unpaid carers like Alun and Marilyn quietly go about their responsibilities with a selfless commitment that should be recognised, not penalised by locking them out of opportunities.
“Many of the staff and volunteers I met at Forward Carers have been Carers themselves, so they understand the barriers people face when someone else relies so on them for support.”
The Mayor’s comments reinforce the importance of ensuring that unpaid Carers are not disadvantaged because of their caring responsibilities, particularly when it comes to employment, financial security and access to opportunities.
We were also delighted to welcome Pat McFadden MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who happened to be visiting the same site where our head office is based.
His visit provided a further opportunity to highlight the impact of unpaid caring on employment and the importance of ensuring Carers receive the recognition and support they deserve.
Making Carers’ Voices Heard
At Forward Carers, we believe that Carers should be at the heart of conversations and decisions that affect their lives.
This visit was an important opportunity for Carers to speak directly with regional leaders about their experiences, the barriers they face and the changes that could make a meaningful difference.
We would like to thank Richard Parker and Pat McFadden MP for taking the time to listen, and especially Anne, Angela, Alun and Marilyn for sharing their experiences so openly.
Their stories are a powerful reminder that unpaid Carers should never have to choose between caring for someone they love and protecting their own future.
The photo opposite shows Marylin, a Carer registered with Dudley’s Adult Wellbeing Service sharing her story.
Support for Working Carers: Know Your Rights
Are you balancing paid employment with caring responsibilities?
Our free online Support for Working Carers: Rights at Work sessions can help you better understand your rights and the support available.
The sessions cover:
- Carer’s Leave and your employment rights
- Support available to working Carers
- How to approach conversations about caring with your employer
- Ways to help balance work and caring responsibilities
We offer lunchtime and evening sessions to make it easier for working Carers to attend.
Book your free Support for Working Carers session
Share Your Voice – Help Shape the Future of Carer Support
Would you like to share your experiences and help influence the services, policies and decisions that affect unpaid Carers?
Just like Anne, Angela, Alun and Marilyn, you can make your voice heard through our Carers Voice programme.
By getting involved, you can share your views, highlight the challenges Carers face and help us work towards more Carer Friendly Communities.
Together, we can help ensure unpaid Carers are recognised, valued and supported across the West Midlands and beyond.
You can hear more about Alun and Marylin’s lived experience of caring by clicking the relevant link.
