Unpaid carers in Harrow are providing an estimated £623 million worth of care every year, new figures show.
The figure comes from a new campaign by Specsavers and Carers UK, which highlights the vital role carers play across the country — often without any formal recognition or financial support.
In Harrow, the number of unpaid carers has dropped over the last decade, from 24,620 in 2011 to 20,040 in 2021. But the value of the care provided has still risen by 24%, up from £422 million in 2011 to £623 million in 2021.
To mark the contributions of carers, a new artwork titled ‘The Most Valuable Portrait’ was unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery last week before going on public display at London’s South Bank.
The painting, created by portrait artist Colin Davidson, has been assigned a symbolic value of £184 billion — the estimated annual value of unpaid care provided across the UK.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “Without unpaid carers, our health and social care system would collapse. Carers UK is excited to be part of ‘The Most Valuable Portrait’, working with Specsavers Home Visits to raise awareness and put carers’ stories in the spotlight. We want to see greater acknowledgment for the true value of unpaid care, a lifeline for many that often goes unrecognised.”
Specsavers’ Home Visits team says it sees first-hand the work carers do when visiting patients at home to deliver eye and hearing tests.
Preetam Meghani, ophthalmic director at Specsavers London Home Visits, said: “Our Home Visits colleagues are in people’s homes every day seeing first-hand the incredible support carers give to their loved ones. We recognise that caring for someone with a physical or mental illness often means making extra arrangements to meet their health needs. It’s so important unpaid carers and their loved ones get the support and also the recognition they deserve.”
The portrait features London carer Jaycee La Bouche, who looks after her mother. She said:
“It is such an honour to have had my story and experience as a carer immortalised in a portrait, which was unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery and now on public display at South Bank in London. Caring for my mother has always been a natural choice for me; and one I embrace wholeheartedly.”
The portrait has been valued by Roseberys auction house and will be sold, with proceeds going to Carers UK.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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