During the challenging times when the UK went into lockdown in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many areas of support were affected, particularly for unpaid parent carers. As parents who have dedicated themselves to the care of a child/young adult with disabilities, I have witnessed firsthand how the reduction or cancellation of short stay respite breaks has taken a toll on families like mine. Five years have passed since then, and the landscape for respite care in England remains bleak. Many places that once offered these crucial breaks for families have ceased to provide the service entirely.

During the lockdown, we lost access to one of the few reprieves that provided us with much-needed relief. For unpaid parent carers, these short breaks are not a luxury; they are a necessity. My daughter, due to her specific disabilities, cannot just be placed in any care facility, and the choices have only narrowed over the years. The entitlement to two weeks of respite per year feels like a distant dream as it becomes increasingly harder to find suitable placements that can accommodate her needs.

This plight has slipped through the net of government priorities, but it cannot be ignored any longer. The mental and physical health of many parent carers is at stake, and the well-being of the families they support hangs in the balance. We urge the UK government to recognize and act upon the critical need to restore and enhance short break respite care options for unpaid parent carers.

Concrete actions such as the provision of funding to reopen these facilities, alongside the implementation of robust support systems tailored for young adults with severe complex needs, would be a substantial step forward. Not only would this bring much-needed relief and peace of mind to parent carers, but it would also affirm the state's commitment to valuing the unpaid work that countless families do.

Please join us in calling for the restoration of these vital short respite breaks. Your signature can help bring attention to this issue, prompting the necessary changes to support unpaid parent carers across England. Sign the petition to stand with us in advocating for our right to respite.