Lichfield support group links with law firm for unpaid caregivers initiative
Lichfield-based support group Grace Cares joined forces with leading UK law firm Anthony Collins LLP to help unpaid caregivers navigate complex care decisions.
Unpaid caregivers supporting family members and friends across the UK received practical legal guidance through a specialist Care Club session delivered by Grace Cares in partnership with the law firm.
The session – Understanding Care and Legal Rights: Advice and Q&A – addressed key challenges faced by people providing unpaid care, many of whom are making complex decisions without formal training, legal clarity or consistent access to support.
With unpaid caregivers estimated saving the UK economy billions each year, improving access to clear legal information is increasingly recognised as essential to preventing crisis escalation and reducing pressure on statutory services.
Legal specialists Laura Jordan, partner, and Beth Parlane, solicitor, provided guidance on a wide variety of topics, including rights under the Care Act 2014, employment protections for unpaid caregivers, financial support and benefits access, mental capacity and decision-making frameworks, housing and property considerations, NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility and end of life and estate planning.
The session formed part of Grace Cares’ wider preventative support programme for unpaid caregivers and older people, alongside its circular economy model redistributing surplus care equipment and reinvesting income into community-based interventions tackling isolation and hardship.
Hannah Montgomery, co-founder of Grace Cares, said: “Unpaid caregivers are holding together large parts of the health and social care system, yet too many people still struggle to access clear, trusted information about their rights.
“Care Club exists to bridge that gap – bringing expert advice directly to communities in a way that is practical, accessible and human. Partnerships like this with Anthony Collins LLP help ensure people feel more confident making decisions earlier, before challenges escalate.”
Laura Jordan, partner at Anthony Collins LLP, added: “Understanding legal rights around care, funding and decision-making can significantly improve outcomes for both caregivers and the people they support.
“We were delighted to work alongside Grace Cares to create a space where individuals could ask questions openly and leave better equipped to navigate complex systems.”
Pictured from left to right: Beth Parlane, solicitor and Laura Jordan, partner from Anthony Collins LLP
