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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| £33m carer-support plan unveiled | £33m carer-support plan unveiled |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| New measures aimed at supporting people in England helping elderly or disabled relatives have been unveiled. | New measures aimed at supporting people in England helping elderly or disabled relatives have been unveiled. |
| Some £25m of a £33m budget will go to local authorities to fund emergency respite care for people who need a break from the demands of their role. | Some £25m of a £33m budget will go to local authorities to fund emergency respite care for people who need a break from the demands of their role. |
| The government said the New Deal for Carers would relieve the burden on carers if they were sick or had other family responsibilities. | The government said the New Deal for Carers would relieve the burden on carers if they were sick or had other family responsibilities. |
| Charities estimate there are about six million people caring in the UK. | Charities estimate there are about six million people caring in the UK. |
| They also estimate that some 2.2 million either start or stop responsibilities each year. | They also estimate that some 2.2 million either start or stop responsibilities each year. |
| A national helpline for carers will also be created as part of the scheme. | A national helpline for carers will also be created as part of the scheme. |
| The New Deal for Careers will also include the development of an expert carers programme. | The New Deal for Careers will also include the development of an expert carers programme. |
| 'Quality of life' | 'Quality of life' |
| Ministers say this will provide training and support in areas carers have called for help with, such as information about their legal rights and training in handling. | Ministers say this will provide training and support in areas carers have called for help with, such as information about their legal rights and training in handling. |
| Ivan Lewis, minister for care services, said the funding builds on an annual grant given to local authorities since 1999. | Ivan Lewis, minister for care services, said the funding builds on an annual grant given to local authorities since 1999. |
| Carers often put their own health at risk because of concern about what will happen to the person they care for Imelda Redmond, Carers UK 'I was a prisoner at home' | Carers often put their own health at risk because of concern about what will happen to the person they care for Imelda Redmond, Carers UK 'I was a prisoner at home' |
| "This army of carers do not want to give away their family responsibilities," he said. | "This army of carers do not want to give away their family responsibilities," he said. |
| "Equally, they want government and local services on their side ensuring the necessary care and support is available to maintain their family's quality of life." | "Equally, they want government and local services on their side ensuring the necessary care and support is available to maintain their family's quality of life." |
| He said the government would not be supporting a private members bill that wanted local authorities to provide short breaks for families of carers of disabled children because it did not address costs. | |
| But he pledged to bring forward specific proposals on the issue in the next few months. | But he pledged to bring forward specific proposals on the issue in the next few months. |
| John Wallington, from Leicestershire, is a carer for his wife who suffers mental health problems. | John Wallington, from Leicestershire, is a carer for his wife who suffers mental health problems. |
| He told the BBC: "My job as a carer is a full time job - it is 24/7, 365 days a year. It is my life. | He told the BBC: "My job as a carer is a full time job - it is 24/7, 365 days a year. It is my life. |
| "It is totally unpredictable as to what each day is going to be like." | "It is totally unpredictable as to what each day is going to be like." |
| The New Deal was welcomed by the charity Carers UK. | The New Deal was welcomed by the charity Carers UK. |
| Chief executive Imelda Redmond said emergency support was "essential for carers' health and wellbeing" and said the helpline service would make more people aware of "crucial" information. | Chief executive Imelda Redmond said emergency support was "essential for carers' health and wellbeing" and said the helpline service would make more people aware of "crucial" information. |
| Funding pressures means its own helpline can only be run on a part-time basis. | Funding pressures means its own helpline can only be run on a part-time basis. |
| "Carers often put their own health at risk because of concern about what will happen to the person they care for," she said. | "Carers often put their own health at risk because of concern about what will happen to the person they care for," she said. |
| "We estimate that £740 million of carers' benefits go unclaimed each year partly because a third of carers do not recognise themselves as a carer in the first five years of caring." | "We estimate that £740 million of carers' benefits go unclaimed each year partly because a third of carers do not recognise themselves as a carer in the first five years of caring." |
| Shan Nicholas from the Princess Royal Trust for Carers said the government and local authorities now needed to ensure the resources made "a real and positive difference to carers' lives". | Shan Nicholas from the Princess Royal Trust for Carers said the government and local authorities now needed to ensure the resources made "a real and positive difference to carers' lives". |
| 'Invaluable contribution' | 'Invaluable contribution' |
| The unveiling of the measures came as Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a national consultation with carers and voluntary organisations. | The unveiling of the measures came as Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a national consultation with carers and voluntary organisations. |
| Francine Bates OBE of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign board said respite care should not be seen as an alternative to planned, regular short breaks for carers. | Francine Bates OBE of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign board said respite care should not be seen as an alternative to planned, regular short breaks for carers. |
| She added: "The funding being announced today is welcome but will not go very far towards meeting the needs of the 100,000 families with severely disabled children who need regular breaks." | She added: "The funding being announced today is welcome but will not go very far towards meeting the needs of the 100,000 families with severely disabled children who need regular breaks." |
| Help the Aged said the extra funding was a drop in the ocean but showed the government recognised the "invaluable contribution" carers make. | Help the Aged said the extra funding was a drop in the ocean but showed the government recognised the "invaluable contribution" carers make. |
| Policy manager Deborah Klee added: "What is vitally needed is better investment in planned respite care and support for carers, rather than only helping people once they get to breaking point." | Policy manager Deborah Klee added: "What is vitally needed is better investment in planned respite care and support for carers, rather than only helping people once they get to breaking point." |
| TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education, said provision of emergency respite care was "simply not enough" for families looking after those with severe learning difficulties. | TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education, said provision of emergency respite care was "simply not enough" for families looking after those with severe learning difficulties. |
| Children's charity NCH urged the government not to forget young carers who can face difficulties in education, relationship breakdown and stress. | Children's charity NCH urged the government not to forget young carers who can face difficulties in education, relationship breakdown and stress. |