New carers’ charity head calls on employers to give support
Employers need greater help to support informal carers better in the workplace, according to the new chairwoman of Carers Guernsey.
Ellie Lawrence has said that in the role, which she took up just last month, she wanted to do more outreach work with local carers and their employers.
‘Carer status is a protected ground under the new discrimination act. Employers need to take into consideration carers’ requests for flexible working,’ she said.
‘I champion flexible working. A lot of carers take on part-time roles and employers often feel like they can’t ask why, so speaking to employers on how best they can support carers is something I would like to do now.’
It is expected that the number of informal carers in the community will continue to rise.
‘Due to our ageing population, three in five people will care for a loved one,’ said Mrs Lawrence.
‘Informal carers save the States about £29m. so are really valuable to our community, as if we didn’t have them the States would have to step in. But it is important that we support them.’
Carers Guernsey was established in 2018 and offer support to carers who are balancing work, personal lives and caring responsibilities. It was previously chaired by former chief minister Peter Harwood, who had been in the role since the charity’s launch. He has stayed on the board as its political lead.
‘Peter had stepped down as he thought it was time to take a step back and let someone else be chair,’ Mrs Lawrence said.
Mrs Lawrence’s appointment comes at a time when Carers Guernsey is having a shift in focus.
‘We have reached the end of our three-year business plan,’ she said. ‘We need to raise the charity’s profile and awareness.’
There are an expected 8,000 informal carers across the Bailiwick and only 115 of those are on Carers Guernsey’s books.
‘We need to fill that gap and reach those people,’ said Mrs Lawrence. ‘I am hoping to meet some of our carers and go into care homes to speak to staff there.’
Carers Guernsey has also recently appointed a new service manager Tanya Dorrity. Her role combines essential outreach support services with strategic elements to raise the profile of Carers Guernsey, ensuring the charity reaches those who need them most.
The impact of caring on an individual is something that Mrs Lawrence has had experience with in her family.
‘I do have an understanding of what it takes to be a carer,’ she said.
‘I have a personal experience with carers, I have cousins on both sides of my family who have disabilities and require care.’
She also has experience in the charitable sector.
‘I do a lot of charity work,’ she said. ‘I try to spend 15% of my week doing charitable stuff.
‘A little bit of support can make a huge difference to people in the community’s lives.’
Mrs Lawrence runs her own business, Flexible Working Solutions (FWS) and is the mother of three children.
‘I had worked in finance before I had my children, then after I had my third child I took on FWS,’ she said. She is also a board member at the KGV.
