Carers NI: Understanding Carer Poverty

  • We worked with Carers NI to produce the final report of the Carer Poverty Commission, “Policy measures to tackle poverty among unpaid carers in Northern Ireland”.
  • The report brings together quantitative analysis of household survey data and qualitative research with unpaid carers outlining the drivers of poverty among unpaid carers and policy modelling of solutions to tackle this poverty.
  • At the outset, we undertook an in-depth literature and data review to understand the context for poverty rates amongst carers in Northern Ireland, the key drivers, existing support available and gaps in provision.
  • This enabled us to undertake considerable modelling of solutions that informed a package of recommendations on how to address carer poverty in Northern Ireland.

Testimonial

Craig Harrison, Carers NI

“Carers NI were delighted to work with WPI Economics to develop ground-breaking new evidence for the Carer Poverty Commission Northern Ireland. They delivered a comprehensive research programme that exposed the scale, drivers and impact of poverty on unpaid carers in a way that had never been done here before; with a team of experts who put our goals first and always went the extra mile.”

“Commissioning WPI Economics has allowed us to produce a standard of evidence that is so often lacking in policy campaigns in Northern Ireland – putting the issue of carer poverty at the top of the political agenda and making an irrefutable case for reform in the Stormont Assembly and Executive. We would have no hesitation in recommending the team to any organisation that wants to develop robust and high-quality research to help achieve their campaign objectives.”