New badge launched to boost pride among millions of paid and unpaid carers
By News England, , , , , , , , , ,

A new badge is being launched today with the aim of becoming a unifying symbol of pride among 9 million paid and unpaid carers as well as raising money for care-related causes.

The CARE badge, developed by Care England and everyLIFE Technologies, is being launched at the Residential & Home Care Show at London’s ExCeL, and aims to promote awareness of the crucial role carers fulfil.

So far:

  • 34,300 CARE badges sold during the three-week soft launch phase, with a further 42,000 of badge enquiries awaiting restocking
  • Care home operator HC-One has ordered 14,500 CARE badges to recognise and celebrate their carers
  • All profits from CARE badge sales go to care-related causes and charities selected by care workers and carers

The CARE badge was born on 19th March 2019 while listening to Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, highlight the opportunities and challenges faced by care providers and the lopsided message that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care sends by only wearing an NHS lapel badge.

The Chairman of everyLIFE Technologies, Robin Batchelor, sitting in the audience, turned to his colleague and said: “We should work with Care England to change that.”

The initiative calls on the UK’s business leaders to buy the £1 CARE badges and distribute them for FREE to their employees and customers in a visible display of support for the 1 in 4 of the UK population that is either providing or receiving care outside of a hospital environment every day.

Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England commented, “The CARE badge is an eye-catching and powerful symbol of pride in the quality of care so many deliver across the UK every day. I shall be wearing my CARE badge with pride and I sincerely hope all of you will get a CARE badge and raise the profile of care.”

While the CARE badge is personal to everyone, it is hoped those wearing the badge will share common beliefs, including:

  • showing involvement with and/or support of social care in its many forms
  • building a team spirit within a widely distributed care community
  • a personal commitment to quality in care
  • an invitation to start conversations about care
  • encouraging recruitment and retention of care staff
  • reinforcing the size and importance of this often-overlooked care community.

Robin Batchelor, Chairman of everyLIFE Technologies said: “Two million professional carers and 7 million more unpaid carers provide care for others each day, no matter if it’s a holiday for the rest of the population or if the weather is adverse and travel is difficult. Unfortunately, they often do so with minimal or no financial reward and without the public interest and support that other care professionals reasonably enjoy.

“We’re launching the CARE badge today to help everyone make sure that these care heroes don’t go unnoticed or underappreciated.”

For further information regarding the CARE badge, contact Robin Batchelor or Professor Green at: [email protected] or visit:  www.thecarebadge.org  @thecarebadge #badge4care