Charity launches £1m fundraising appeal to help care workers forced to self-isolate

The public are being urged to show their thanks to care workers across Britain by donating to an emergency fund for those battling to keep the elderly, disabled and others with multiple health conditions safe from the coronavirus.

At 8pm every Thursday, the public collectively stop to clap for NHS and care workers working on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic but donating money is another way people across Britain can show their gratitude.

The fund is an emergency grant programme set up by the Care Workers Charity to help care workers in need because of the virus.

There are almost two million care workers in the UK, who spend their lives caring for others but when circumstances change, often it is the care workers who need help.

'Help you can give will go a long way'

Should a care worker have to self-isolate, as a result of displaying coronavirus symptoms, they may not be able to return to work and may be on zero hour contracts.

Many care workers are unable to continue vital work protecting people reliant on care because they themselves have underlying health conditions.

As a result, the Care Workers Charity is making available financial grants for care workers to apply for from 30 March 2020.

A spokesman for the Care Workers Charity said: “We will receive a large number of applications for help in the coming weeks and require extra funds to help with the increased demand.

“Any help you can give will go a long way. This is not going to be an easy journey, but together we can make it.”

Charity launches £1 million pound appeal

The charity has already received more than £84,000 in donations, but it hopes to raise £1 million.

Former chief executive of the National Association of Care & Support Workers (NACAS), Karolina Gerlich took up her new job at the Care Workers Charity on 23 March to work on policy and campaigning. Karolina Gerlich, executive director at The Care Workers’ Charity said: “COVID-19 is one of the biggest crises our generation will see in its lifetime.

“Care workers are at the frontline of this, caring for the most vulnerable people in our society who are most susceptible to the virus.

"If a care worker needs to self-isolate they will fall into desperate need. For this reason, we need more funds for extra emergency grants.”

Hallmark Homes and Hallmark Care Homes Foundation has donated £30,000 to support care workers.

'We need our care workers more than ever'

Avnish Goyal, chair of Hallmark Homes, said: “The Hallmark Foundation is a support fund for all care workers but there will be people who fall between the cracks and don’t have the support they need.

"I support this cause and hope that this acts as a catalyst for others will join forces too.”

Andrew Parfery, co-founder and chief executive of Care Sourcer, which has also pledged money, said: “We are proud to support The Care Workers’ Charity in asking for help from executives across the UK.

“The 80 per cent salary support for furloughed workers is great but we are supporting the campaign to ask executives to stand beside care workers, by donating 20 per cent of their salary for the next three months."

Care Sourcer is offering a free Employee Assistance Programme on its website to every single UK care worker.

Care workers can receive professional counselling support for mental or physical stress, to help them cope with the death of those they care for and money worries during the coronavirus pandemic.

Martin Jones, chief executive at Home Instead Senior Care, which has also pledged money, said: “Caring for our care workers has never been so important than during this difficult time.

“I ask that everyone should consider our care workers and make a donation to the campaign to ensure we are all helping each other to keep the nation safe.”

Help The Care Workers’ Charity keep the UK caring by donating to its Just Giving Page