Carers Trust to launch £3m fund for unpaid carers to mark Princess Anne's birthday

18 May 2021 News

Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal

Chatham House

The Carers Trust is launching a new £3m fund to provide grants and reach more unpaid carers with support.

The Princess Royal Respite Fund for Carers has been created to secure long-term funding for Carers Trust’s respite services.

The new fund aims to provide small grants to approximately 30,000 unpaid carers so they can take a break from the constant demands of their caring role.

It aims to raise £3m over the next three years from a range of donors, including trusts and foundations, major donors, corporate supporters and members of the public.

Any unpaid carer who is registered with a Carers Trust Network Partner is eligible to apply for support from The Princess Royal Respite Fund For Carers. Carers will be able to apply for support from the fund from June onwards.
 
Carers Trust Network Partners are quality-assured independent carer charities that are part of a network of over 120 such charities across the UK. 
 

The fund marks the 70th birthday of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who is president at Carers Trust.

The Respite Fund For Carers means Carers Trust will be able to significantly increase the number of grants it makes to carers via the Carers Trust’s network of over 120 local partner services. 

John McLean, chair of Carers Trust board, said: “As most of us begin to emerge from months of lockdown, many unpaid carers will be staying at home to continue providing round-the-clock care for a loved one without the prospect of even the smallest break. 

“They need our support right now, and that is why Carers Trust is launching the Respite Fund – so we can support more carers to have time to themselves and the breaks they both need, and deserve. On behalf of my fellow colleagues and trustees, I would like to thank Her Royal Highness for her unstinting support which has made the Respite Fund possible.”

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