Nation looks to summer holidays while carers go without

• Research reveals 73% of unpaid carers have just one week's holiday or less a year
• 1 in 3 never have an evening or a weekend off from their caring role
• New award deadline extended to 18th February 2016

A new national award giving one of the UK's unpaid carers the chance to win a respite holiday has extended its entry deadline further into 2016, in a move to enable as many carers as possible to be nominated.

The British Caregiver Award has been launched by National Accident Helpline and Revitalise in response to research revealing a serious shortfall in respite for unpaid carers. Results from the study of 1,000 unpaid carers highlighted that 73% have just one week's holiday or less a year, and 1 in 3  (34%) said they never get a weekend break from their caring role.

Simon Trott, Managing Director of National Accident Helpline, said:

"During the dark winter months, many of us are thinking ahead to the summer and planning our holidays.

Unfortunately, for the vast majority of the UK's unpaid carers this is unlikely to be the case.

"Stepping up to the plate as a carer can be rewarding, but planning a holiday or trip away is rarely simple. For that reason we have launched the British Caregiver Award, to help support an unpaid carer and the person they care for to take a holiday this year."

The entry deadline has been extended to 18th February and involves a quick and simple entry form. Unpaid carers can apply for the award directly; alternatively carers' friends or family can put them forward to be named British Caregiver of the Year. Support is available for applicants if they would prefer to fill in the form over the phone.

The Award will enable a carer and the individual they look after to take a holiday courtesy of National Accident Helpline and Revitalise - a national charity which specialises in providing respite holidays for disabled people and their carers at its three dedicated centres around the UK.

In addition to the British Caregiver Award, a number of special recognition awards will be made. The person who nominates the winning carer will receive a £250 Superbreak voucher as a thank you for highlighting their dedication.

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Notes to editors

For press information, case studies and interviews please contact Francesca Rivet-Carnac on 020 3696 5800/ Francesca@standagency.com or Fiona Gildea on / Fiona@standagency.com

The British Caregiver Award:

The British Caregiver Award aims to raise awareness of the plight carers face, specifically the lack of quality time off many of them receive from their caring role. For more details, please visit: national-accident-helpline.co.uk/news/british-caregiver-award

The Award will enable a carer and the individual they look after to take a holiday away together with the charity Revitalise, which specialises in holidays for disabled people and their carers.

•    The judging panel will include National Accident Helpline Managing Director Simon Trott, National Accident Helpline Marketing Director Beth Powell and Revitalise CEO Chris Simmonds.
•    The selected carer will be announced in March 2016.
•    The Award is open to any adult in the UK who provides unpaid care (other than receiving the Carer's Allowance) for another adult who has experienced a personal injury* or acquired disability that has led to them requiring care.

*for example as the result of a road accident, a slip, trip or fall, a spinal injury, medical negligence, a medical accident, a work accident or an industrial disease.

If applicants need help or support to fill in the form, please email britishcaregiveraward@nahl.co.uk and the team are available to make the process as simple and accessible as possible.

About the research:

The survey was commissioned by National Accident Helpline and carried out by Research Now, with a sample size of 1,000 unpaid carers across the UK. More research findings are available here.

An unpaid carer is defined as anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend, family member, husband or wife who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

The total number of unpaid carers is from the 2011 census, see full ONS details here.

The figure for average holiday is from results by Expedia, which can be read here.

Results

About National Accident Helpline

National Accident Helpline (NAH) is the UK's leading provider of personal injury advice, services and support, and represents 50 legal practices across the UK. If a consumer has suffered an accident or injury which was someone else's fault we can help them understand if they have a legitimate claim, and we will connect them with one of our specialist PI panel solicitor firms so they can seek appropriate redress.

Through our approved network of specialist personal injury solicitor firms, we champion consumer rights for people who have suffered a personal injury, helping those with genuine claims to secure access to justice to help aid their recovery.

NAH is an ethical and professional organisation. We have industry-leading standards and we never cold call or send spam texts or spam emails to attract new clients.

NAH is part of NAHL Group plc and is a registered company, incorporated in the UK and regulated by the Claims Management Regulator in respect of claims management activities. For more information please visit the website: national-accident-helpline.co.uk.

About Revitalise

Revitalise is a national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people and carers at three accessible centres in Chigwell in Essex, Southampton and Southport, with 24-hour nurse-led care on call, personal support and a range of accessible excursions, activities and entertainment. For more information please visit the website: www.revitalise.org.uk