Women are bearing the brunt of caring, finds local charity's study

SURVEY by local disabled people's charity Revitalise reveals that women feel unfairly pressured into a caring role.  A new study by the charity Revitalise has highlighted the pressure felt by women to assume caring roles ahead of men. Revitalise runs the Sandpipers centre in Southport, providing respite holidays for disabled people and carers from the North West region and beyond. While acknowledging that 42% of the UK's 6.5 million unpaid carers are men, the charity's study has revealed a perception among female carers that they are victims of a gender bias which may be unfairly forcing them into caring roles.

The survey found that twice as many women as men thought the gender of a person was a factor in their becoming a carer (34% vs 17%). When quizzed further, 78% of the female respondents agreed that women feel more pressured into the role of carer on account of their gender. However, this contention was shared by 53% of the men. 89% female carers felt there was an expectation in families and society that women take on the role of carer, to which 84% non carers also agreed.

Significantly, 37% non-carers thought men tried to evade the responsibility of providing care. But when it came to the question of men's caring capabilities, 78% and 91% of men were in unanimous agreement that men were just as good at caring as women; an opinion also shared by 83% non-carers.

Women's feelings of injustice extended to the workplace too; 84% of female carers felt there was a greater expectation that women should abandon their careers to become carers.

The Revitalise survey also painted a stark picture of the plight of the UK's unpaid carers, both male and female. 48% of the carers who responded to the survey; 83% of whom were 50 or over; said they provided 24/7 care for a loved one, yet 34% said they had never had any significant time away since they started caring.

The impact on the emotional and physical wellbeing of carers was also clearly highlighted:- 60% said they put the health of their loved 1 ahead of their own. 32% admitted that they sometimes felt depressed and/or resentful at being a carer and that sometimes they lost patience or got angry at the person they cared for (34%).

There are over 750 million carers in the North West, with over 280,000 in Greater Manchester and over 165,000 in Merseyside. In the UK, around 1 person in 8 is in some kind of caring role. Revitalise is holding up its study as evidence that much more needs to be done to support unpaid family carers; especially in terms of regular respite from caring; and also that the perceived issue of gender bias within caring needs to be addressed.

Revitalise Chief Executive Chris Simmonds commented:- "On the surface this might make quite depressing reading, but it's important to acknowledge that many people don't regard caring for loved one as a burden or a chore. In our survey, 6 out of 10 carers said they were happy to be carers because they felt it was their duty. But the fact remains that most carers are under incredible pressure and get very little support. Revitalise has been providing respite support for disabled people and carers from the North West and across the UK for over 50 years, so we know a thing or two about the importance of regular time off from caring, as well as the devastating impact that a lack of regular respite can have. We think our research has opened the door on an issue that deserves urgent attention. If women are bearing the brunt of the duty of care, if they feel unfairly pressured into giving up their careers, hopes and plans solely because of their gender, then we think that is quite wrong. We've always believed that disabled people should have the same rights and freedoms as non disabled people and exactly the same principle should apply to all carers too."

Revitalise is a national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people and carers at Sandpipers and 2 other accessible centres in Chigwell and Southampton, with 24 hour nursing care on call, personal support and a range of accessible excursions, activities and entertainment.  People wanting more information about Revitalise respite holidays are requested to call:- 0303 303 0145 or visit:- Revitalise.Org.UK.

Living Streets welcomes pavement parking bill

NATIONAL charity Living Streets, which campaigns for pedestrians, (24 June 2015) welcomes North Dorset MP Simon Hoare's Private Member's Bill calling for a ban on pavement parking in England and Wales.  Living Streets' Chief Executive Joe Irvin said:- "We have been campaigning for years to reclaim our pavements for pedestrians and we are delighted that this important issue is finally being addressed after being delayed twice in the last Parliament. Pavements are for people, not vehicles and it is about time that this issue is prioritised and given the attention it deserves. Pavement parking is dangerous. It can obstruct the footway and force pedestrians into the path of oncoming traffic. This is particularly dangerous for vulnerable pedestrians including those with reduced mobility or sight loss, wheelchair or mobility scooter users and parents with young children or buggies. From our own research (a YouGov poll in December 2014 for Living Streets) we know that 62% of people over the age of 65 were worried about obstructions on the pavement such as cars parked on the pavement for their friends and relations aged 65 and over. Parents also tell us it is 1 of their main worries in relation to children walking to school.  London has had a pavement parking ban since 1975 and the Scottish Parliament now also has a Bill before it to do so. We want parking on the pavement to be banned and we fully support Mr Hoare as he works to make the pavement parking bill a reality."