1. Grundtvig Learning Partnership Life After Care - UK Madeleine Starr Carers UK

2. What is Carers UK? Carers UK seeks to improve carers' lives through lobbying and campaigning, information, advocacy, training, research, and developing strategic partnerships Carers UK is a membership organisation of carers, led by carers for carers. Carers are at the heart of all our work, shaping our campaigns, helping get our message across through the media, taking action to bring about change locally and nationally

3. Key priorities We campaign for the changes that make a real difference for carers We provide information and advice to carers about their rights and how to get support We gather hard evidence about what needs to change, and use it to influence policy at national and local level We mobilise carers and supporters to influence decision-makers We use our information, training and consultancy services to transform the understanding of caring in every area of life so that carers are valued and not discriminated against

4. Caring and work Of the UKs 6 million carers, 58% are women, 42% are men Nearly 80% - 4.4 million – are of working age 3 million – 1 in 8 people in the UK workforce - juggle paid work with care, 2 million full time, 1 million part time 1.4 million are economically inactive 2.3 million carers move in and out of caring each year 1 in 5 gives up work to care

5. Carers UKs role in Life After Care To focus on the (re)entry of former carers into the labour market To carry out field work to identify existing evidence base and good practice in supporting former carers –Follow up on evaluation of Learning for Living and Caring with Confidence –Monitor progress on provisions in the National Carers Strategy –Identify other examples of good practice

6. Carers UKs role in Life After Care Produce dissemination materials in partnership with Arco/Sofia Host study visit in UK on (re-entry) to the labour market in May 2010 Contribute to handbook/toolkit supporting transition to post-caring Contribute to final report

7. Carers UK Websites: www.carersuk.org www.lifeaftercare.eu madeleine.starr@carersuk.org