- Conference
- 2025 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 7 September 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference, research indicates that Black carers provide a disproportionately higher level of care compared to White British carers. This heightened responsibility puts them at a greater risk of ill-health, loss of employment, and social exclusion. In England alone, half a million Black carers contribute an estimated £7.9 billion annually to the state, representing 41% of the total local authority spending on social care. This significant contribution, however, increases the vulnerability of carers from diverse communities to health challenges, job loss, and social isolation.
As the population ages, the demand for social care is escalating, and the pressure on funding is intensifying. The Black population in the UK is younger on average than the White British population, which means there will be a sharper rise in the number of Black older adults requiring social care support. It is crucial to secure adequate funding and develop practical solutions to ensure that flexible and appropriate care is available for older Black individuals. Without this support, families from diverse backgrounds will be forced to provide care themselves, leading to potential job loss, health risks, and isolation.
It is vital that the reformed NHS addresses the specific health challenges faced by Black communities. The NHS must urgently understand and respond to the unique needs of Black carers, with particular attention to older Black carers from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, welfare reforms must consider and mitigate the impact on carers from diverse communities and the individuals they support.
Unpaid carers often provide essential care for individuals with long-term physical or mental health conditions, illnesses, or age-related issues. Many carers from diverse communities have not undergone a formal carers assessment, as there is often an assumption that these families will care for their own. Those who do receive Carer’s Allowance frequently face the difficult choice of reducing their working hours to avoid losing this vital benefit. The current low earnings threshold forces carers to limit their work hours, as the benefit does not taper and is not aligned with the National Living Wage.
Conference, we must advocate for the earnings threshold to be raised, with legislation ensuring that it automatically adjusts in line with increases in the National Living Wage. Furthermore, we must campaign for an increase in the Carer’s Allowance, as it is currently the lowest of its kind.
Conference, we call on the NBMC to:
1)Raise awareness of the need for comprehensive carers assessments, ensuring that assessments are conducted for all carers from diverse communities rather than assuming that families can or should provide care without support;
2)Join UNISON’s campaign for an increase in both the Carer’s Allowance and the number of hours carers can work while still receiving this benefit, with adjustments tied to the National Living Wage to prevent financial hardship;
3)Promote awareness of Black carers’ contributions, and highlight the disproportionate burden carried by Black carers and advocate for targeted support to address the health, employment, and social challenges they face.
