Coalition on Charging

Arthritis Care is part of Coalition on Charging Cymru - campaigning for free personal care for disabled and older people across Wales. In 2006, the Welsh Assembly Government undertook the biggest political u-turn in the history of Welsh devolution with its decision to go back on its manifesto pledge to introduce free personal care. The Coalition is continuing its campaign to raise awareness of the effects of charging for community care services on older people, disabled people and carers and work to bring about an end to this unjust policy. 

The Coalition on Charging Cymru says:

• Abandoning free home care allows the existing postcode lottery and age discrimination to continue.  The price of independence will be paid by people in our community on the lowest incomes and in most need of help and support
  
• The Joseph Rowntree Foundation research into Scotland's policy of providing free personal care for older people at home and in residential and nursing homes found it has created a fairer system without undue extra public spending 
  
• WAG must re examine this issue as a matter of urgency including funding in depth research into the potential costs, benefits and legal powers needed to introduce Free Home Care in Wales 
  
• WAG’s limited review of how local authorities currently assess what charges people should pay is not a long term solution 
  
• The only fair way to end this injustice is to stop all charging for services provided through a community care assessment

How to get involved

The Coalition on Charging has produced a Campaigns Pack  which provides further information about charging and how to support the Coalition’s campaign – including example letters to send to AMs and other decision makers, as well as ideas such as organising petitions and street stalls.