Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Bernard Longely of Birmingham believes carers need to be given more respect in British society.

Speaking at a recent Charity Leaders’ Network lunch (ACEVO) in Birmingham, Archbishop Longely said that the ‘tough commissioning regime’ for national and local government service contracts means that the wages of ‘many carers are depressed.’

The archbishop highlighted how the ‘recent scandals in care homes’ have shone a light on the need for ‘good, motivated, properly trained and properly supervised staff to provide real care for very vulnerable old people.’ He said that the poor treatment of carers illustrated a wider problem in British society.

“Poverty goes far beyond lack of material wealth,” he added. “We can speak of poverty as a deficiency of necessary or desirable ingredients. The necessary and desirable ingredients of life go beyond material possessions, although of course the basic material necessities—food, a roof over one’s head, clothes etc. are being met by many faith-based organisations—food banks, night shelters, through the distribution of clothing parcels. But what of the other necessities and desirable ingredients of life: being loved and cared about, a sense of belonging and of community? Poverty includes isolation, loneliness, fear in one’s environment, being deprived of opportunities and lacking a voice.”

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