The widow of rugby league legend Rob Burrow has called for more recognition for unpaid carers amidst claims of a ‘crisis’ from the CEO of a carers’ charity.
Helen Walker, the chief executive of Carers UK – a charity aimed at supporting and advising carers in the UK – has claimed that there is a ‘crisis’ in adult social care which is causing unpaid carers to ‘pick up the slack’.
Her comments, and the comments of Lindsey Burrow who has called for more recognition for carers, have come as the government have announced plans to invest more in adult social care.
Currently, carers are only eligible for Carers Allowance if they spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with either an illness or disability – however, they are only entitled to £81.90 per week.
Lindsey looked after husband Rob Burrow during his four-and-a-half-year fight against Motor Neurone Disease, a battle that the Leeds Rhinos legend sadly lost in June.
During that time, she continued to work and she has highlighted the need for more support and recognition of the nation’s unpaid carers – who she claims the country “would not cope” without.
Speaking to BBC News, Lindsey Burrow said: “I think in the UK there are over 10 million carers and two million of those are actually working.
“So, they are juggling working and caring responsibilities and I just think they do an amazing job.”
She also highlighted the need to “recognise and reward them”.
Lindsey Burrow on her first year without Rob
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
The fight that Rob Burrow showed was documented by the BBC over multiple documentaries which also highlighted the efforts of Lindsey and her duty as both a mother and carer.
Reflecting, she explained: “It is a really positive and really rewarding to job to do, and I was very honoured I got the privilege of looking after Rob.”
She also noted the isolation and how the system ‘doesn’t always work for everybody’, something that will hopefully change after the government’s review – albeit that review’s findings are not expected to be reported until 2028
Rob Burrow passed away aged 41 in June but his legacy will live on through Lindsey and his three children Ms Burrow keen to note the important lesson that he taught them.
“I know Rob would want us to be happy and would want the children to be happy,” she explained.
“This year is going to be increasingly difficult, the first year without Rob.
“But he showed us the way that life is for living, and we owe it to Rob to continue to be happy and to make those memories.”
For information, support and advice about caring – visit Carers UK here.
