Heléna’s goodbye
Life after Carers UK
Chief Executive Heléna Herklots is leaving Carers UK at the end of July
after more than 6 years. Heléna reflects on her time here and the
importance of the Carers UK members.
event to launch a report on
nutrition and caring; and I
spent time with our amazing
staff to get to know them
and all that they were doing.
Like many people I was
surprised that Carers UK was
not a bigger organisation,
given its impact.
We talk about you
every day. As I reflect back
on my six and a half years
leading Carers UK, I realise
that every day I’ve talked
about, and thought about,
our members. It’s part of
what makes this charity so
special, and so influential. It
also makes it very hard for
me to leave!
My first week in Carers UK
set the tone for what was
to come - busy and varied! I
had a meeting with the Care
Minister to discuss what
Government was doing for
carers; I met with a group
of Carers UK members to
hear first-hand about the
challenges of caring, and
what needed to change; I
spoke at a parliamentary
4
One of my favourite
memories was being here
during our 50th anniversary
year in 2015, where we
reflected back on our
history and the pioneers of
the carers’ movement. A
highlight of the year for me
was meeting relatives of our
founder the Reverend Mary
Webster (photo top left),
and learning more about
Mary’s life, her own caring
and health challenges, and
how she inspired what is
now becoming a global
movement.
There have been many
challenges along the way.
I’ve been Chief Executive
during a time when the
political and economic
climate has made making
progress to change public
policy and to secure funding
and support hard at times.
This climate, especially the
cuts to public spending, has
meant that part of my job
has been to protect rights
for carers, as well as to
push for greater recognition
and support. I’m proud
that Carers UK has secured
important new rights for
carers including the Care
Act (in England) and there is
now greater recognition and
understanding of caring.
Much like caring itself, it
feels like the work is never
done. As I prepare to leave,
I’m still working with the
team on our campaigns
on Carer’s Allowance and
carers breaks – it’s so
important to keep pushing
for improvements and to
bring the experiences of
carers to public and political
attention.
Although I am leaving
Carers UK I am not leaving
the carers movement. I
am joining Carers UK as a
member, and look forward
to seeing Carers UK at the
forefront of a growing carers
movement for many years
to come. I know also that I
will value what this special
charity does as I go through
my own caring journeys way
into the future.
carersuk.org