Carer wins Government pledge against cuts (From Halesowen News)

Carer wins Government pledge against cuts

9:00am Saturday 18th June 2011 in Local

A CHAMPION of carers, who look after sick and disabled relatives, lobbied MPs at Number 10 and came home to Oldbury with a pledge from David Cameron that they would be supported.

David Upson, whose wife Joan died in April after suffering from dementia for 10 years, represented Dementia UK at the Carers Week reception on Wednesday and pleaded with politicians to protect services which give vital support to carers from savage cut.

“David Cameron gave a good speech, to the point and, I think, heartfelt.

“I hope his policies and ideas do not get watered down too much before they get to the local authorities,” he said.

Mr Upson, of Bleakhouse Road, said he was pleased to hear that money for carers would be ring fenced and that Mr Cameron acknowledged that “carers need all the support they can get.”

The 64-year-old charity worker, who also works with Better Understanding for Dementia in Sandwell (BUDS) and Unique People, said he had never thought he would find himself talking to politicians inside Number 10.

“It was a very good reception and I really enjoyed it, but I would like to see the things promised actually happening on the ground and not lost,” he added.

Mr Upson, who sports a distinctive white beard - and is a popular Santa at Christmas fairs - made an impression on the PM who told him his was the “best beard” ever seen in Number 10.