Andy McGowan
@andymcgowan.bsky.social
Policy and Practice Manager at Carers Trust. Usually tend to post about carers, politics, social care, education, football or musicals.
Any posts are strictly in a personal capacity.
Any posts are strictly in a personal capacity.
Thank you @alisonebennett.bsky.social for your support with this crucial issue.
This will represent the first time there has been a requirement in English policy for Mental health settings to identify children caring for a parent with a mental illness and to ensure they have access to support.
This will represent the first time there has been a requirement in English policy for Mental health settings to identify children caring for a parent with a mental illness and to ensure they have access to support.
🚨 LIB DEM WIN: @alisonebennett.bsky.social has secured changes to the Mental Health Bill, ensuring better support for young carers whose parents have mental illness.
October 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Thank you @alisonebennett.bsky.social for your support with this crucial issue.
This will represent the first time there has been a requirement in English policy for Mental health settings to identify children caring for a parent with a mental illness and to ensure they have access to support.
This will represent the first time there has been a requirement in English policy for Mental health settings to identify children caring for a parent with a mental illness and to ensure they have access to support.
As someone who is also a father of 3 young kids, this one has hit home more than most. Gone at 28 years old leaving behind his wife and his children all aged 4 and under. Definitely makes you grateful for what you have. Thoughts are with his family and friends at this absolutely tragic time #YNWA
Diogo Jota was killed in a car crash in Spain at the age of 28, just two weeks after getting married.
July 3, 2025 at 9:08 PM
As someone who is also a father of 3 young kids, this one has hit home more than most. Gone at 28 years old leaving behind his wife and his children all aged 4 and under. Definitely makes you grateful for what you have. Thoughts are with his family and friends at this absolutely tragic time #YNWA
Looking forward to @learnworkuk.bsky.social Employment and Skills Convention today
Really interested in how we ensure unpaid carers are on the radar in thinking about employment policy but also the opportunities that devolution can bring for local carer services.
#EmpSkills25
Really interested in how we ensure unpaid carers are on the radar in thinking about employment policy but also the opportunities that devolution can bring for local carer services.
#EmpSkills25
July 1, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Looking forward to @learnworkuk.bsky.social Employment and Skills Convention today
Really interested in how we ensure unpaid carers are on the radar in thinking about employment policy but also the opportunities that devolution can bring for local carer services.
#EmpSkills25
Really interested in how we ensure unpaid carers are on the radar in thinking about employment policy but also the opportunities that devolution can bring for local carer services.
#EmpSkills25
It was a real privilege to be invited to speak at the @barnardosni.bsky.social event in Stormont this afternoon.
Hosted by the Health Minister, the event shined the light on the real need for updated legislation, recognition and support for young carers and young adult carers in Northern Ireland.
Hosted by the Health Minister, the event shined the light on the real need for updated legislation, recognition and support for young carers and young adult carers in Northern Ireland.
June 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
It was a real privilege to be invited to speak at the @barnardosni.bsky.social event in Stormont this afternoon.
Hosted by the Health Minister, the event shined the light on the real need for updated legislation, recognition and support for young carers and young adult carers in Northern Ireland.
Hosted by the Health Minister, the event shined the light on the real need for updated legislation, recognition and support for young carers and young adult carers in Northern Ireland.
- Young carers missing on average over a month of school
- Over 20,000 young carers persistently absent
- 3 times as many late sessions
2023-24 attendance stats just as stark as 2022-23.
When we talk about pupils missing learning, we have to be including young carers.
carers.org/news-and-med...
- Over 20,000 young carers persistently absent
- 3 times as many late sessions
2023-24 attendance stats just as stark as 2022-23.
When we talk about pupils missing learning, we have to be including young carers.
carers.org/news-and-med...
Shocking school absence figures for young carers show they urgently need more support
Nearly half of young carers in secondary school miss a day every fortnight. They need urgent support. Read more.
carers.org
March 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
- Young carers missing on average over a month of school
- Over 20,000 young carers persistently absent
- 3 times as many late sessions
2023-24 attendance stats just as stark as 2022-23.
When we talk about pupils missing learning, we have to be including young carers.
carers.org/news-and-med...
- Over 20,000 young carers persistently absent
- 3 times as many late sessions
2023-24 attendance stats just as stark as 2022-23.
When we talk about pupils missing learning, we have to be including young carers.
carers.org/news-and-med...
Great to start the Lib Dem Spring Conferce chatting with Steve Darling, Spokesperson for Work and Pensions about the work of Carers Trust and a range of issues facing carers and local carer services - particularly the recent DWP announcements relating to PIP and UC
March 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Great to start the Lib Dem Spring Conferce chatting with Steve Darling, Spokesperson for Work and Pensions about the work of Carers Trust and a range of issues facing carers and local carer services - particularly the recent DWP announcements relating to PIP and UC
Ed Davey and the Bath Philharmonia Young Carers Choir's Christmas Single 'Love is Enough' is number 5 in the iTunes top 200 - ahead of even Ed Sheeran! Raising money for Carers Trust and Bath Philharmonia to support young carers across the country. Download/stream now at - slinky.to/LoveIsEnough
November 29, 2024 at 8:12 PM
Ed Davey and the Bath Philharmonia Young Carers Choir's Christmas Single 'Love is Enough' is number 5 in the iTunes top 200 - ahead of even Ed Sheeran! Raising money for Carers Trust and Bath Philharmonia to support young carers across the country. Download/stream now at - slinky.to/LoveIsEnough
I am so proud that Carers Trust won the Young Carers Award at the CYP Now Awards last night for our Young Carers Alliance work.
Absolutely delighted to have received this recognition for the combined efforts of all the hundreds of members and young carers who make the Alliance what it is!
Absolutely delighted to have received this recognition for the combined efforts of all the hundreds of members and young carers who make the Alliance what it is!
November 29, 2024 at 7:19 PM
I am so proud that Carers Trust won the Young Carers Award at the CYP Now Awards last night for our Young Carers Alliance work.
Absolutely delighted to have received this recognition for the combined efforts of all the hundreds of members and young carers who make the Alliance what it is!
Absolutely delighted to have received this recognition for the combined efforts of all the hundreds of members and young carers who make the Alliance what it is!
So excited that we can finally talk about this. It's been amazing to be a part of this. Huge thanks to Ed Davey for using his own experience as a young carer to now help raise awareness and vital funds for Carers Trust and Bath Philharmonia to support young carers. Full release tomorrow!
You’ve never heard a Christmas single quite like this before.
Ed Davey and Bath Philharmonia Young Carers' Choir present: “Love is Enough” - in support of the Bath Phil and Carers Trust.
Out tomorrow! 🎁❄️
Ed Davey and Bath Philharmonia Young Carers' Choir present: “Love is Enough” - in support of the Bath Phil and Carers Trust.
Out tomorrow! 🎁❄️
November 27, 2024 at 7:15 PM
So excited that we can finally talk about this. It's been amazing to be a part of this. Huge thanks to Ed Davey for using his own experience as a young carer to now help raise awareness and vital funds for Carers Trust and Bath Philharmonia to support young carers. Full release tomorrow!
Reposted by Andy McGowan
Ed Davey is dreaming of Christmas No 1 hit with carers’ choir
Ed Davey is dreaming of Christmas No 1 hit with carers’ choir
Lib Dem leader teams up with choir of young carers to record a version of their self-penned song, Love is Enough
When already this year you’ve bungee-jumped, jetskied and led your party to its best election result for a century, how can you possibly top…
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2024 at 7:08 PM
Ed Davey is dreaming of Christmas No 1 hit with carers’ choir
Am really excited for this... watch this space... vm.tiktok.com/ZGd23tSrg/
November 27, 2024 at 6:15 PM
Am really excited for this... watch this space... vm.tiktok.com/ZGd23tSrg/
At opening of NCAS Conference, it is pleasing to hear Melanie Williams, President of ADASS highlighting importance of supporting carers in her opening speech. Also important that she recognised the financial challenges faced by wider social care sector. #ncasc24
November 27, 2024 at 10:28 AM
At opening of NCAS Conference, it is pleasing to hear Melanie Williams, President of ADASS highlighting importance of supporting carers in her opening speech. Also important that she recognised the financial challenges faced by wider social care sector. #ncasc24
As the talk today is around "Getting Britain Working" this article powerfully highlighting the challenges faced by parent carers in relation to employment is so timely.
Parent carers are so often forgotten and unsupported - they need to be proactively considered not just by DWP, but also DfE.
Parent carers are so often forgotten and unsupported - they need to be proactively considered not just by DWP, but also DfE.
I wrote about the way the SEND crisis is quietly unpicking women's lives - destroying careers, dismantling relationships, damaging physical and mental health.
And all this goes on unacknowledged.
Long read for The i Paper:
inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...
And all this goes on unacknowledged.
Long read for The i Paper:
inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...
'I quit to fight for my son': how the SEND crisis is wrecking women's careers
Four in 10 parents of children with special educational needs have stopped working, and mothers are hit the hardest
inews.co.uk
November 26, 2024 at 10:32 PM
As the talk today is around "Getting Britain Working" this article powerfully highlighting the challenges faced by parent carers in relation to employment is so timely.
Parent carers are so often forgotten and unsupported - they need to be proactively considered not just by DWP, but also DfE.
Parent carers are so often forgotten and unsupported - they need to be proactively considered not just by DWP, but also DfE.
Reposted by Andy McGowan
UPCOMING WEBINAR 💡
Join us on Wed 11 December at 2pm for presentations on the latest #SocialCare research within @nihr.bsky.social Policy Research Units.
Register to join: 👉https://lse.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcuqprTMvE9fpS2XZ6-lgFRKNLh9-bCvS#/registration
1/7
Join us on Wed 11 December at 2pm for presentations on the latest #SocialCare research within @nihr.bsky.social Policy Research Units.
Register to join: 👉https://lse.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcuqprTMvE9fpS2XZ6-lgFRKNLh9-bCvS#/registration
1/7
November 25, 2024 at 1:15 PM
UPCOMING WEBINAR 💡
Join us on Wed 11 December at 2pm for presentations on the latest #SocialCare research within @nihr.bsky.social Policy Research Units.
Register to join: 👉https://lse.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcuqprTMvE9fpS2XZ6-lgFRKNLh9-bCvS#/registration
1/7
Join us on Wed 11 December at 2pm for presentations on the latest #SocialCare research within @nihr.bsky.social Policy Research Units.
Register to join: 👉https://lse.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcuqprTMvE9fpS2XZ6-lgFRKNLh9-bCvS#/registration
1/7
Reposted by Andy McGowan
Good to see the focus on #YoungCarers in this piece by Charity Digital
charitydigital.org.uk/topics/how-c...
Highlighting the work of @childrenssociety.bsky.social & The Carers Trust (@andymcgowan.bsky.social)
charitydigital.org.uk/topics/how-c...
Highlighting the work of @childrenssociety.bsky.social & The Carers Trust (@andymcgowan.bsky.social)
How charities support young carers
Charities are helping young carers tackle challenges including digital exclusion, isolation, and bullying
charitydigital.org.uk
November 25, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Good to see the focus on #YoungCarers in this piece by Charity Digital
charitydigital.org.uk/topics/how-c...
Highlighting the work of @childrenssociety.bsky.social & The Carers Trust (@andymcgowan.bsky.social)
charitydigital.org.uk/topics/how-c...
Highlighting the work of @childrenssociety.bsky.social & The Carers Trust (@andymcgowan.bsky.social)
Angela Rayner refers to the social care fair pay agreement as the 'jewel in the crown' of the Employment Rights Bill. For social care providers, including carer services, up and down the country - it certainly won't be without uplifts in contract value to match - www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Fair pay for social care staff will help fix crumbling NHS says Angela Rayner
The Deputy Labour Leader said she was "frustrated" by how the care system has been allowed to fragment under the Tories
www.mirror.co.uk
November 24, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Angela Rayner refers to the social care fair pay agreement as the 'jewel in the crown' of the Employment Rights Bill. For social care providers, including carer services, up and down the country - it certainly won't be without uplifts in contract value to match - www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
These figures are stark enough, but worth noting this is just the cost for social care providers regulated by CQC.
It doesn't include for example all the local carer services who don't provide regulated care, but do provide support (including statutory functions) on behalf of local authorities
It doesn't include for example all the local carer services who don't provide regulated care, but do provide support (including statutory functions) on behalf of local authorities
1: 📢 Our new analysis (www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/wi...) finds that the new budget could cost social care providers £2.8 billion: a thread
Will the Autumn Budget push the social care sector beyond breaking point?
While the recent budget brought better news for hard-pressed public services, social care was not so lucky. With many organisations fearing that changes to the Employer National Insurance Contribution...
www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk
November 23, 2024 at 11:46 AM
These figures are stark enough, but worth noting this is just the cost for social care providers regulated by CQC.
It doesn't include for example all the local carer services who don't provide regulated care, but do provide support (including statutory functions) on behalf of local authorities
It doesn't include for example all the local carer services who don't provide regulated care, but do provide support (including statutory functions) on behalf of local authorities
Reposted by Andy McGowan
NEW BLOG: What support do young carers and their families want, need, and value? 🧑🤝🧑
For #CarersRightsDay, Nicola Brimblecombe shares findings from a @nihr.bsky.social funded study with Sheffield Young Carers & @hscwru.bsky.social on improving support for #YoungCarers:👉 www.lse.ac.uk/cpec/news/re...
For #CarersRightsDay, Nicola Brimblecombe shares findings from a @nihr.bsky.social funded study with Sheffield Young Carers & @hscwru.bsky.social on improving support for #YoungCarers:👉 www.lse.ac.uk/cpec/news/re...
November 22, 2024 at 9:31 AM
NEW BLOG: What support do young carers and their families want, need, and value? 🧑🤝🧑
For #CarersRightsDay, Nicola Brimblecombe shares findings from a @nihr.bsky.social funded study with Sheffield Young Carers & @hscwru.bsky.social on improving support for #YoungCarers:👉 www.lse.ac.uk/cpec/news/re...
For #CarersRightsDay, Nicola Brimblecombe shares findings from a @nihr.bsky.social funded study with Sheffield Young Carers & @hscwru.bsky.social on improving support for #YoungCarers:👉 www.lse.ac.uk/cpec/news/re...
Brilliant to spend Carers Rights Day in Parliament with carers and carer services from across the country for a parliamentary roundtable about carers assessments and transitions for carers from Children's to adult services. This was to mark our new Carers' Rights report - carers.org/downloads/ca...
November 21, 2024 at 10:32 PM
Brilliant to spend Carers Rights Day in Parliament with carers and carer services from across the country for a parliamentary roundtable about carers assessments and transitions for carers from Children's to adult services. This was to mark our new Carers' Rights report - carers.org/downloads/ca...
For those of you who work in/around education - have you seen the new report published by Carers Trust about young carers in education - www.carers.org/yceducation?
It combines insights from young carers, schools/colleges and young carer services across England with analysis of DfE data.
It combines insights from young carers, schools/colleges and young carer services across England with analysis of DfE data.
September 28, 2024 at 10:34 AM
For those of you who work in/around education - have you seen the new report published by Carers Trust about young carers in education - www.carers.org/yceducation?
It combines insights from young carers, schools/colleges and young carer services across England with analysis of DfE data.
It combines insights from young carers, schools/colleges and young carer services across England with analysis of DfE data.
Today @ofstednews.bsky.social published its response to the Big Listen - www.gov.uk/government/c...)
It is really pleasing to see Ofsted highlight young carers as a group that children feel inspectors should particularly ask schools about during inspections.
It is really pleasing to see Ofsted highlight young carers as a group that children feel inspectors should particularly ask schools about during inspections.
September 3, 2024 at 7:39 AM
Today @ofstednews.bsky.social published its response to the Big Listen - www.gov.uk/government/c...)
It is really pleasing to see Ofsted highlight young carers as a group that children feel inspectors should particularly ask schools about during inspections.
It is really pleasing to see Ofsted highlight young carers as a group that children feel inspectors should particularly ask schools about during inspections.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm a massive Christmas fan - but mince pies displayed at the Sainsbury's entrance on 31st August?! That is too much even for me...
August 31, 2024 at 6:26 PM
Now don't get me wrong, I'm a massive Christmas fan - but mince pies displayed at the Sainsbury's entrance on 31st August?! That is too much even for me...
With the bank holiday over, it means September and party conference season is right around the corner.
I'm at Lib Dem Conference again from the Friday night to the Tuesday. If anyone is around and fancies a catch-up/to chat carers/social care, then do send me a message.
I'm at Lib Dem Conference again from the Friday night to the Tuesday. If anyone is around and fancies a catch-up/to chat carers/social care, then do send me a message.
August 27, 2024 at 6:31 PM
With the bank holiday over, it means September and party conference season is right around the corner.
I'm at Lib Dem Conference again from the Friday night to the Tuesday. If anyone is around and fancies a catch-up/to chat carers/social care, then do send me a message.
I'm at Lib Dem Conference again from the Friday night to the Tuesday. If anyone is around and fancies a catch-up/to chat carers/social care, then do send me a message.
With the potential end of the Household Support Fund, coupled with the changes to eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment, this winter will be even tougher for unpaid carers already struggling with cost of living pressures. This Autumn Budget will be crucial.
carers.org/news-and-med...
carers.org/news-and-med...
Soaring energy bills will have devastating effect on 1.8 million carers already living in fuel poverty, Carers Trust warns
A new price cap which will see a typical household's annual energy bill soar by £149 in October, will have a devastating impact on unpaid carers.
carers.org
August 24, 2024 at 1:07 PM
With the potential end of the Household Support Fund, coupled with the changes to eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment, this winter will be even tougher for unpaid carers already struggling with cost of living pressures. This Autumn Budget will be crucial.
carers.org/news-and-med...
carers.org/news-and-med...