• By 2037, it's anticipated that the number of carers will increase to 9 million
• Every day another 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility - that equals over 2 million people each year
• 58% of carers are women and 42% are men
• Over 1 million people care for more than one person

• Over 3 million people juggle care with work, however the significant demands of caring mean that 1 in 5 carers are forced to give up work altogether.
• The main carer's benefit is £53.10 for a minimum of 35 hours, equivalent to £1.52 per hour - far short of the national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour

• 625,000 people suffer mental and physical ill health as a direct consequence of the stress and physical demands of caring.
• 1.25 million people provide over 50 hours of care per week

High numbers of people have caring responsibilities: caring responsibilities place demands on significant numbers of people, without whom the pressure and costs on health and social care services would be unsustainable.

Numbers of carers in Staffordshire

• 2001 Census data identified that there were almost 90,000 unpaid carers in Staffordshire, 11.1% of the population. This includes 2,212 under 18 years of age (thought to be under-reported).
• Projections indicate that there will be continuing growth in the proportion of the population over 65 years and increasing numbers of children and adults with disabilities which will increase the number of individuals who become unpaid carers over the next 20 years

Carers contribute to the local economy

• Carers make an important economic contribution: the economic value of the contribution of carers in Staffordshire is estimated to be £1,265 million (2007).

• Caring responsibilities can have a negative impact on carers’ physical and psychological health.

Adult carers: In a survey by Carers Association South Staffs 43% of respondents reported that they suffered from depression. Young carers: Young carers’ psychological health is also a problem and surveys of young carers find substantial numbers reporting stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. 

Young carers often feel concerned and anxious about their parents’ welfare when they are not there to help look after them especially if their parent has mental health problems and is at risk of self- harming. Other studies have found that many young carers reported eating problems, difficulty in sleeping, and self harm. Poor health impacts on carers’ ability to sustain their caring role and also places additional burdens on the health and social care services. Many crises occur requiring emergency response by health and social care agencies when a carer becomes ill.

• Caring impacts on people’s ability to work: many carers struggle to combine work with care. In Staffordshire 7% of households had one carer working either full or part time and 60% of carers have given up work to care.
• Employers, who wish to recruit and retain sufficient skilled workers as the working population reduces over the coming years, will need to support carers in the workforce to sustain a job alongside their caring responsibilities.

Carers Association Southern Staffordshire is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered No:4184030
Registered Office: The Carers Centre, Austin Friars, Stafford. ST17 4AP.
Cass is a Registered Charity 1086979