that, says campaigning group carers uk, is a problem for them and for the economy. s are striking. every day, more than 600 people stop working to become carers. a further 5 million carers are also holding down a job. 0verall since 2011, the number of people caring for someone else has gone up by 5.5 million. carers uk says employers in turn now need to become more caring, by allowing carers flexibility over working hours and leave, especially as up toa working hours and leave, especially as up to a quarter will suffer from depression or stress in need treatment themselves. the government agrees. it says carers make an invaluable contribution to society and this must not come at the expense of their own health and well—being. exactly what this means is not yet clear. 0ne exactly what this means is not yet clear. one suggestion is that companies could provide up to ten days a year of paid leave for workers trying to balance the needs of those who pay them with the needs of those who pay them with the needs of those who pay them with the needs of those they love. ben a

that, says campaigning group carers uk, is a problem for them and for the economy. ers are also holding down a job. 0verall, since 2011, the number of people caring for someone else has gone up by 5.5 million. carers uk says employers, in turn, now need to become more caring, by allowing carers flexibility over working hours and leave, especially as up to a quarter will sufferfrom depression or stress and need treatment themselves. the government agrees. it says: "carers make an invaluable contribution to society and this must not come at the expense of their own health and well—being." exactly what this means isn't yet clear. one suggestion is that companies could provide up to ten days a year of paid leave for workers trying to balance the needs of those who pay them with the needs of those they love. ben ando, bbc news. let's return to the news that theresa may will be meeting with the president of the european commission let's talk to adam fleming. do we know what the purpose of this meeting will be? a status update? that's exactly what it will be. we've just had

that, says campaigning group carers uk, is a problem for them and for the economy. carers are also holding down a job. overall, since 2011, the number of people caring for someone else has gone up by 5.5 million. carers uk says employers, in turn, now need to become more caring, by allowing carers flexibility over working hours and leave, especially as up to a quarter will sufferfrom depression or stress and need treatment themselves. the government agrees. exactly what this means isn't yet clear. one suggestion is that companies could provide up to ten days a year of paid leave for workers trying to balance the needs of those who pay them with the needs of those they love. ben ando, bbc news. inafew in a few months we will go to belfast because the prime minister is going to be speaking at that podium in belfast on her hopes for the withdrawal agreement which can square all circles and please all constituencies. we will hear more from that in belfast at three o'clock. but for now, we will hear about what's hot and what's not in the business news. but first, let's h

it actually stems rom our 15 year partnership with ca re rs rom our 15 year partnership with carers ukat we were able to learn how policies and practices can influence our workforce in the broader society. it stemmed from a 15 year relationship. you referred again to the right of people to ask for the company to accommodate them, is there a guarantee that your company will always say yes? we are guaranteed we will be open—minded, we will look at a range of options and we will work with individuals to fix what is required for them. let's look at some comments coming in, an anonymous text says i have ever not myjob to look after my stable month. the financial biblical these doesn't help, the carer‘s allowance is so low, think of the money the country is saving. linda says i gave up my country is saving. linda says i gave up myjob some months ago to care for my son with autism. i was told ifi for my son with autism. i was told if i didn't, and he has since been diagnosed with a rare condition, he would end up in care. tanya, do you wa nt to would end up in care. tanya, do you want to be a

yes, this is off the back of a piece by carers uk which shows a massive increase in the number of people quit theirjobs to look after loved ones. they can no longer be cared for by social workers or the nhs, and there arejust not cared for by social workers or the nhs, and there are just not the funds in the system to enable that to happen. so there are some very striking statistics in the story about the numbers of people. i mean, state funding for social care having fallen 27% since 2010. 400,000 fewer people receiving professional care. that is putting people... at the time when the population is ageing. i was struck talking to someone in the west country last year who said that the budget for the social care for grants and helpful people had been exhausted pretty early in the financial year and then they would have to wait until the next financial year because social care is funded by local authorities. 0bviously they receive money from central government but it is not pa rt central government but it is not part of the nhs. although in whitehall is called the department of health and

it is estimated one in eight adults in the uk are carers, saving the economy over £130 billion a yearr husband was diagnosed with early onset alzheimer's disease in his early 50s. it changes what you thought the future was going to hold. it changes when you become, not in a marriage, but become the carer. you don't realise sometimes that you are the carer, because you just suddenly go into the role. shall we do three? liz sold the family home when matthew became ill seven years ago, so she could devote all of her time for caring for him. no every day is the same, a relentless routine, caring for the man she has loved for 45 years. we cannot have a conversation now. we cannot talk about things in general because he just focuses on tv. i cannot change that, that is his world. despite his alzheimer's, he understands what liz is going through. she hasn't got a life with me now. sometimes, if i wasn't here, she would have a better life. she'sjust too good. the only break in the routine comes with a weekly trip to a dimanche group at his beloved everton football club, where he enjoys footba

it's estimated there are around seven million people in the uk who are carers, looking after elderlyth reveal that every day, more than 600 people quit work to become carers. for many, it's more than a full—time job — exhausting and draining, both financially and emotionally. but in liverpool, there is an organisation which exists to help the carers. i've been along to meet them. they look like a group of friends and enjoy a regular get—together, but the truth is far from that. all of these people are carers, who hardly ever get out to enjoy themselves. in fact, some are meeting for the first time. i care for my husband, who has alzheimer's. also our special needs daughter who we adopted. carer means you care, but it doesn't hit you until you are actually doing it. notjust day, but night—time as well, and there is no respite. but today, they have some respite — a well—earned break courtesy of a charity which has been set up to care for liverpool's carers. if you ask carers what is the one thing that could help in the caring role, it's to have a break. they don't want to give the cari