Kerry is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Carers.

Kerry McCarthy MP has added her support to Carers UK’s national carers’ rights campaign on Friday 4th December 2009.

There are over six million unpaid carers in the UK who provide care and support to family, friends and neighbours, providing unpaid care worth an estimated £87 billion each year. The Carers Rights Day campaign, run by Carers UK, seeks to increase the take-up of benefits and raise awareness of carers’ rights and the support that they may be able to get in order to protect their pensions. It might be the Carer’s Allowance, council tax discount, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit that makes a difference.

Kerry, who is passionate about carers’ rights and who will be a guest speaker at the Black Carers’ Project AGM next week said:

“It’s a real concern that carers in Bristol may not be getting all the help they are entitled to. Carers are fulfilling a vital role in society and without them the NHS and social care system would not be able to cope. It is essential that they are given information about their rights so that they get the support they need in order to plan for their futures.”

Carers UK urged carers to get in touch with its Adviceline (0808 808 7777 or www.carersuk.org) to receive a free booklet. Carers can also pick up booklets in their local Lloydspharmacy store.

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive said,

“Many people assume that we will all automatically get a state pension, but you don’t. Pensions are built up from National Insurance contributions over the years. Many carers haven’t been able to make those contributions because of gaps in paid work and, despite their huge contribution to our society, there is a real risk that they will end up with less pension in their retirement. That is why it is so important they get advice and take steps to protect their pensions.”

To coincide with Carers Rights Day, Carers UK is publishing two new resources to help carers with advice, Caring about your pension and Looking after someone: A carer’s guide to rights and entitlements.

In May 2006 Kerry hosted a reception at Parliament for the Shared Care Network, a national organisation based in Easton, which promotes short-break services for the families of children with disabilities.

Locally, Kerry has spoken at the AGMs of the Black Carers Group and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, which is based at the Vassall Centre in Fishponds. She has also met with Dhek Bhal, an organisation which supports carers from South Asian communities, and a group of young people from the Young Carers Network.

Kerry has been a great supporter of Carers Week. She has signed a number of EDMs in support of the campaigns, as well as attending Carers Week events in Bristol. She marked Carers’ Week this year by speaking at the 10th anniversary celebrations of Bristol Black Carers Group.

Kerry has been involved in efforts to help people with disabilities to find employment in Bristol. This summer, with fellow Bristol MP Douglas Naysmith, she attended the launch of the Leonard Cheshire Charity’s ‘Ready to Start’ campaign, which aims to support disabled people starting their own businesses. She was a judge for Bristol’s Remploy ‘Leading the Way’ awards, which recognise businesses and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the employment of disabled people. She presented these awards in September.