Event

Kate Hamblin and Emily Kenway: The work of care

This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute for Policy Research discusses the realities of unpaid care and the urgent policy challenges it raises.

Overview

Join Kate Hamblin and Emily Kenway for a discussion about the realities of unpaid care and the urgent policy challenges it raises.

About the event

Millions of people throughout the UK provide unpaid care for family members and friends who are disabled, older, or who have a chronic health condition and need support. While the economic value of this care exceeds £180 billion a year, it often comes at a significant personal cost, particularly when adequate support is lacking.

Drawing on research and lived experience, Kate Hamblin and Emily Kenway will examine the social and economic pressures faced by carers. They explore why unpaid care falls disproportionately on women, how demographic change is intensifying demand, and what this means for carers’ health, employment and financial security. They will also reflect on insights from the Centre for Care’s Unpaid Care Dashboard, which brings together data to deepen understanding of this hidden workforce and shed light on who provides care, where support is lacking and how needs are changing over time.

They consider the policy challenges surrounding unpaid care and outline the steps needed from government, employers and public services to improve recognition, protection and support for carers, and to address the growing pressures shaping the future of care.

Chaired by Dr Diana Teggi, Lecturer in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences, University of Bath.

This event is open to all.

Speaker biographies

Kate Hamblin is Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Centre for Care. She joined the University of Sheffield in 2018 to work on the Sustainable Care programme. She also currently leads the Centre for Care’s Digital Care research theme and is the UK Networks and geographical lead for the North and East-Midlands in the IMProving Adult Care Together (IMPACT) evidence implementation Centre. She is also the Policy and Practice Liaison lead for the NIHR School for Social Care Research at the University of Sheffield.

Her research has focused on technology and its role in the care of older people with complex needs. Kate has also examined issues related to employment, including the balance between unpaid care and paid work; self-employment and ageing; and ‘active ageing’ employment and pension policies. She has also been involved in research that has explored the impact of artistic activities and engagement on health and wellbeing.

Emily Kenway is a writer and sociologist (PhD) based in the UK. She is the author of two books: The Truth about Modern Slavery (2021) and Who Cares: The Hidden Crisis of Caregiving and How We Solve It (2023). The latter was a finalist for the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. In journalism, Emily writes long and short-form articles on social issues and subcultures for the Guardian, Literary Hub, Times Literary Supplement, Vittles, Good Housekeeping, Grazia, openDemocracy, the Independent and more. Her research has focused on exploitation/human trafficking, the sex industry, homelessness and unpaid care.

This event will be held on Zoom. You will automatically receive reminder emails in the lead up to the event that include the event’s Zoom link.