Unpaid carers discuss the challenges they face with their MP

A group of unpaid family and friend carers from Harpenden and Hitchin embraced the opportunity to talk to their local MP, Bim Afolami, about the challenges they face and issues that affect them and other carers that they feel need to be addressed.

We arranged for seven carers to meet with the Harpenden and Hitchin MP on Friday 24th November 2023, as part of our events to mark Carers Rights Day, which was the previous day. Issues carers raised included the difficulty finding suitable or consistent support due to recruitment and retention challenges in social care and the lack of supported living opportunities for disabled adults.

They also discussed the impact of caring on being able to work, finances generally and the complicated forms that carers have to complete to be able to be considered for some support and whether they can be simplified or better assistance offered to fill them out.

Roma Mills our Policy and Engagement Manager, hosted the event with help from Nicki Bird, our Hubs and Mentoring Co-ordinator, and volunteer Jo Winstanley who leads our Letchworth Carers Support Hub.