Steve pledges support to help create Carer Friendly Communities
Steve Reed MP has pledged his support to carers in Croydon North as part of Carers Week, which runs from 6-12th June.
There are 6.5 million people in the UK who care for a partner, relative or friend. In Steve’s constituency of Croydon North, there are nearly 12,000 carers.
Steve’s predecessor Malcolm Wicks was a passionate supporter of carers, and successfully changed the law to formally recognise the role of unpaid carers for the first time.
The seven charities driving Carers Week 2016 are calling on individuals, organisations and services throughout the country to improve the lives of carers by building ‘Carer Friendly Communities’ – encouraging all parts of the community to think about carers and do things differently to support them.
The call comes after research for Carers Week revealed that a combination of inadequate support from local services and a lack of understanding about caring from wider society is having a negative impact on carers’ health, well-being, relationships and finances.
Steve Reed MP said:
Carers make a huge contribution to Croydon North. Their work often goes unnoticed, which is why I’m supporting Carers Week 2016. I hope services across Croydon can think about what more they can do to help meet the needs of carers and make our communities more Carer Friendly.
Steven Reed is Labour MP for Croydon North and Shadow Minister for Children and Families. In 2018 his private member’s bill on reducing violent mental health restraint became law. In June 2019 he launched Labour’s civil society strategy outlining radical plans to empower citizens and communities.
Steve chairs the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network, co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London, was Leader of Lambeth Council 2006-12 where he led the council’s children’s services to become best-rated in the country and pioneered the public-health approach to tackling violent youth crime. He worked in publishing for 16 years and was an elected trade union branch secretary.