Unpaid carers first to benefit from Mayor and Big Issue’s social enterprise growth fund

Vital support is reaching more of the West Midlands’ 250,000 unpaid carers thanks to a new partnership between Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Big Issue Invest.

The Mayor has visited Birmingham-based Forward Carers to see how new funding through the social investment arm of the Big Issue magazine has extended its services for people who are trying to balance caring for a family member with everyday life.

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.

The investment into Forward Carers is one of the first to be confirmed through the partnership with Big Issue Invest, which has already reached its first milestone with £500,000 secured for four social impact businesses.

Alongside Forward Carers, Jericho Foundation, Ordinary Magic and Legacy West Midlands will use the investment to tackle issues like unemployment, poverty and inequality while creating local jobs.

During the visit to Forward Carers, the Mayor met Alun Richards, from Walsall, who was a nurse with the NHS before becoming full-time care for his wife, also a former nurse, and with 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 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 at 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.”

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. Collectively they employ more than 100,000 people, help improve the lives of millions more, and generate £14 billion a year for the regional economy.

These organisations play a vital role in supporting local communities, but the region has historically received less social investment than other parts of the UK.

The Mayor is changing that by using West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) funding to co-fund a dedicated social investment manager for the region with Big Issue Invest.

Tom Bostock is working with purpose-led organisations to help them understand and access the finance that is available to them, and to develop a pipeline of this type of investment into the region. Big Issue Invest also committed its own funding to the initiative.

The partnership is on target to unlock £1m of new finance into the region’s social impact business and charities in its first year.

The other three organisations to secure new investment through the partnership are:

• Jericho Foundation, based in Birmingham, provides training in practical trade skills like 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 living in diverse communities in north Birmingham, alongside helping people find and retain jobs and housing.

The West Midlands Big Issue Invest partnership can be contacted by emailing tom.bostock@bigissueinvest.com.