Cllr Janet Burgess

• THE government supports unpaid carers, through an allowance, which is £62 per week for those on low incomes.

Imagine how tough it is, if your salary is low and you have full-time caring responsibilities – the emotional and physical strain is immense.

Labour recently ann­ounced it will raise the carer’s allowance to £73 a week, funded by reversing the planned inheritance tax cut for the wealthiest.

I am proud that Islington Council has a package that means more for unpaid carers. We offer a direct payment scheme of up to £30 a week for leisure activities. There is a flexible breaks fund, which unpaid carers can bid for to help with much-needed respite. The aim is to ease the pressure of unpaid caring.

CLLR JANET BURGESS
Labour executive member for health and social care