Two charities are to share £7.8m in funding from financial firms to support carers impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The money is being handed to Action for Children, to bolster digital support for young carers, and to the Carers Trust to support regional services.

It is being distributed through the Covid-19 Support Fund, which has been set up by the insurance and long-term savings industry.

Action for Children will receive £2m to set up online support services, while £5.8m is being handed to Carer Trust to give grants of £150,000 to regional hubs to provide support for unpaid carers from the Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) and LGBTQ+ communities.

The Covid-19 Support Fund involves partners including the Association of British Insurers, Charities Aid Foundation and the National Emergencies Trust.

“This long-term funding will be transformational for unpaid carers, especially those from marginalised groups like the BAME and LGBTQ+ communities,” said Carers Trust chief executive Gareth Howells.

Action for Children managing director of children’s services Carol Iddon, added: “Right across the country, thousands of children spend an average of 25 hours a week cooking, cleaning and being unpaid carers for their loved ones. All this with little recognition of the work they do or the proper support they need.

“Throughout the pandemic, our frontline workers have seen the lives of young carers become even more isolated at home as their care responsibilities have increased, while at the same time spending less time at school, socialising with friends, and unable to go on much-needed activity breaks.”

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