IPR Care assists people caring for relatives and others with dementia and physical disabilities, by providing welfare benefits and debt advice. Carers perform an essential unpaid role for thousands of people, often 24 hours a day. The nature of the role means that they often have little time to devote to dealing with complexities around benefits entitlements. Carers UK reported that 40% of carers are in debt and the proportion of carers unable to afford their utility bills more than doubled in 2022. 35% report that they are cutting back on food and heating, and 8% of carers are using food banks to cope with the cost of living crisis.
IPR works with Islington Carers Hub, and other organisations locally that work with carers in the borough. No other organisation in Islington runs such a bespoke service, delivering specialist advice around benefits and debt to carers. Many of the carers we help miss out on Carer’s Allowance, because they do not realise they are entitled to it, by which time they may have serious debts. Our essential service means both carers, and those they care for, can access the specialist advice they need.
IPR Care relies entirely on grants from trusts, individual supporters and others, and currently lacks significant funding.