Unpaid carers: 'Social care has let my son down'
Jayne Wood, an unpaid full-time carer to her son Sam, 22, who has Down's syndrome, says people like her are being let down by a lack of support.
"Unpaid carers save this country millions of pounds every year, but I have got myself into debt due to the caring role," says the mother-of-three from Hertfordshire.
She is one of many carers who got in touch with the BBC via Your Voice, Your Vote to tell us that more support for the work they do is the most important issue for them in this election.
She previously worked in the social care industry, but without support she cannot return to the role she loved - "because social care has let my son down".
"I'm an unpaid carer and I don't feel [we] are treated like valuable members of society - and I think this is a massive election issue for all the political parties," she says.
Ms Wood looks after Sam, as well as her other son, 14, and her four-year-old daughter at their home in Welwyn Garden City.
She worked as a health and social care trainer but had to give up the role when Sam finished college two years ago.
She explained that he would need full-time care during the day - "and there isn't an accessible provision for him to go in to".
"I feel like I'm stuck in a system that doesn't work."
She says there is nothing for Sam to move on to and is calling on the political parties to ensure further provision for people like him.
"I've had to give up my job and I've got myself into debt," she says.
"Unpaid carers save this country millions of pounds every year but I have got myself into debt due to the caring role.
"I would love to go back to work. I could be doing a valuable job supporting the social care industry but I can't, because social care has let my son down.
"I would love the politicians to listen and support Sam to be in a provision that supports him.
"It shouldn't be this hard or this complicated."
Chris Stelling is head of Carers in Bedfordshire, a charity that provides assistance to unpaid carers.
"They are the bedrock of society, supporting the health and social care system," he says.
"That's why they need to be a priority for the next government."
His charity supports more than 12,000 unpaid carers, who he says feel they are not "recognised, valued or heard".
"We know the value carers provide is north of £160bn, which is almost another NHS - and that's a huge service to not be recognised and not be put at the centre of the political discussion."
We put these concerns to the political parties with candidates standing in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency and asked them to address the issues raised.
The Conservative Party says since 2010 it has increased the carer's allowance by £1,500, and those who work are now entitled to five days of unpaid leave. While there were no specifics for the future, it is promising "bold action".
The Green Party says it would introduce free personal care which would provide some respite for unpaid carers.
Labour says it would reform the carer's allowance making it fairer and simpler.
The Liberal Democrats says it would increase the allowance by more than £1,000 a year, as well as expand the numbers entitled to it. It also says it would fund more paid carer's leave.
Reform UK did not provide specifics but says it would create a national social care plan, merging council and NHS funding to make things simpler.
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