A Birmingham carers’ charity is one of four West Midlands organisations to share £500,000 through a new social investment partnership
More of the West Midlands’ 250,000 unpaid carers are being reached with support, thanks to a new partnership between Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker and Big Issue Invest.
The Mayor visited Birmingham-based Forward Carers to see how funding from Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of the Big Issue magazine, has extended its services for people balancing caring for a family member with everyday life.
The investment in Forward Carers is one of the first confirmed through the partnership, which has already reached its first milestone with £500,000 secured for four social impact businesses. Jericho Foundation, Ordinary Magic and Legacy West Midlands are the other three recipients, and will use the investment to tackle issues such as unemployment, poverty and inequality while creating local jobs.
The visit comes as new national figures show more than a million unpaid carers have had to quit their jobs in the past two years because they struggled to carry on working.
Carers share their stories
During the visit, the Mayor met Alun Richards, from Walsall, who worked as an NHS nurse before becoming a full-time carer for his wife, also a former nurse. He also met Marilyn Beattie, from Stourbridge, who left her job with a pharmaceutical company to care for her husband after he was diagnosed with dementia.
Both say their lives are now much better because of the support they have received from Forward Carers.
The Mayor said: “Thousands of unpaid carers like Alun and Marilyn quietly go about their responsibilities with a selfless commitment that should be recognised, not penalised by locking them out of opportunities. Many of the staff and volunteers I met at Forward Carers have been carers themselves, so they understand the barriers people face when someone else relies so on them for support. It’s why we’ve worked with Big Issue Invest to give Foward Carers more resources so they can provide a lifeline to more people across this region.
“All the social impact businesses we’re helping through this partnership are a part of our economy that should not be underestimated. People and purpose are at their heart of their businesses. I want to use my funding and influence to help them get the finance they need to grow and improve even more lives in the way they’ve helped Alun and Marilyn. It’s what I mean by ‘growth for everyone’.”
Alun said: “My wife became ill about 20 years ago and eventually had to leave her job. It’s a chronic condition, so there are days when she needs a lot of care and days she doesn’t need so much. It had a massive effect on our lives, especially when our two children were growing up. They took on the role of young carers and I tried to make sure they didn’t miss out on their childhood. Family and friends were also happy to help. When I eventually had to give up work myself to care for her full time, we went from two wages to no wage and that hit us financially. There’s also the social isolation and the benefits system is tricky and stressful to navigate.
“I was proud to be a nurse but it can hit you hard when it’s suddenly you on the receiving end of care. Forward Carers have been really good. As well as the advice there’s also peer support. I go to a men’s group where we chat about football and music, help each other, and there’s also days out too.”
Marilyn said: “It can get very, very lonely because if you’re living with someone that you’re caring for who’s got dementia you’re not getting any meaningful communication with them. It’s very easy to reach a crisis point and not know where to go. My husband’s in care now but it doesn’t end because I still go in and see him every day and it’s costing a lot of money.
“People who care for their loved one need to be recognised earlier. My advice is to get in touch with Forward Carers or your local carers hub and just to talk to them. They can identify what your needs are. Everyone is very supportive and they’re there if you need them. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to.”
Simon Fenton, CEO of Forward Carers, said: “It was fantastic to welcome the Mayor and highlight how social investment can help Forward Carers grow sustainably while increasing our social impact across the West Midlands. Unpaid Carers make an enormous contribution, often balancing work, family life and caring responsibilities. Big Issue Invest’s support will help us extend that impact with the acquisition of Max Card, a discount scheme that means families can enjoy more affordable days out and valuable time together.”
Closing the social investment gap
The Mayor’s West Midlands Growth Plan includes support for the region’s social impact economy, the collective term for social enterprises, co-operatives, community-owned businesses and trading charities that trade for good rather than for profit.
The plan recognises the social and economic value of the region’s 9,500 social impact businesses, which together employ more than 100,000 people, help improve the lives of millions more and generate £14 billion a year for the regional economy.
Despite their role in supporting local communities, the region has historically received less social investment than other parts of the UK.
To address this, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) funding is being used to co-fund a dedicated social investment manager for the region with Big Issue Invest, which has also committed its own funding to the initiative. In the role, Tom Bostock is working with purpose-led organisations to help them understand and access the finance available to them, and to build a pipeline of this type of investment into the region.
The partnership is on target to unlock £1m of new finance for the region’s social impact businesses and charities in its first year.
The other recipients
- Jericho Foundation, based in Birmingham, provides training in practical trade skills such as carpentry alongside real-world work experience for people facing extreme challenges in getting a job, with a focus on marginalised people experiencing homelessness, young people and survivors of modern slavery.
- Ordinary Magic improves the emotional wellbeing of children, young people and their families in Solihull through play therapy, school reintegration support and SEND advocacy.
- Legacy West Midlands runs arts, sports and cultural activities that promote good physical and mental health and unite people in diverse communities in north Birmingham, as well as helping people find and keep jobs and housing.
The West Midlands Big Issue Invest partnership can be contacted at tom.bostock@bigissueinvest.com.
