Unique IQ is a Founding Member of The Care Workers’ Charity £500 Challenge
Unique IQ is proud to have pledged to be a Founding Member of the £500 Challenge – a fundraising campaign launched by The Care Workers’ Charity encouraging businesses across the adult social care sector to commit to an annual donation of £500, the same as an average grant awarded to a care worker experiencing financial hardship.
Social care is enduring a workforce crisis, and it is important now more than ever that organisations in the sector come together to recognise the immense value and tireless contributions of care workers across the UK in helping services to stay open. We are contributing to this worthwhile cause to ensure that there is a helping hand for care workers in these difficult times.
By signing up as a Founding Member, we hope to encourage other organisations to sign up themselves. The Care Workers’ Charity is experiencing high demand for its services. Since 2020, the charity has made more than 6,000 grants to care workers in crisis. If one in ten organisations providing and organising care in the UK joined the £500 Challenge, they could raise £2.5 million per year to support care workers.
Karolina Gerlich, CEO of The Care Workers’ Charity said:
“We are extremely grateful to organisations like Unique IQ who have signed up as a Founding Member of our £500 Challenge. Every organisation who signs up and spreads the word is making it more likely that our charity can support care workers across the UK, providing the right support when it is needed most. We hope to sign up hundreds of businesses, ensuring that we have the funds we need to continue providing essential grants and mental health support in the years to come.”
Unique IQ’s CEO and Founder, David Lynes, first started fundraising for The Care Workers’ Charity when he embarked on a 48 hour cycling challenge across the length of the UK – ultimately raising over £2,000 for the charity. He said: “The Care Workers’ Charity is doing a great job of supporting carers and raising the profile of care workers both in and out of the sector. That’s really pertinent to the work we do within the home care sector so it felt like a relevant and worthwhile cause to support. I’m pleased we’ve been able to support The Care Workers’ Charity on a more long-term basis.
Head of Marketing at Unique IQ, Jayne Scarman, said:
“The £500 challenge is a really easy way for businesses to support The Care Workers’ Charity. But the power of regular giving like this cannot be underestimated. Benevolent organisations like The Care Workers’ Charity rely on a steady stream of income to be able to provide consistent relief to the people who need them. Their services are in increasing demand, with care workers struggling to cover basic things like fuel to do their vital jobs.
Jayne continued: “I was particularly impressed to learn that a £500 grant would give care workers access to mental health support, such as 10 sessions with a qualified therapist.”
We urge organisations working in adult social care to accept this challenge and show that they really care about supporting the people who make up our essential workforce. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that care workers are supported to stay in their jobs and have a place to go in times of crisis.
Find out more about The Care Workers’ Charity £500 challenge.