Photo credit: Rob Browne
On Saturday 22 March, a group of carers, mothers, fathers, children and supporters came together to Shine a Light on Care.
The lamplight procession highlighted the essential contributions of mothers, parents and carers and advocated for better visibility and support in workplaces and beyond.
Activism and creativity
The event brought care into the public eye, showcasing the creativity, skills, and achievements of carers while calling for meaningful change.
The procession called on employers, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, Bristol City Council, and the UK government to adopt the caring economy as a core framework for investment in public services, training, transport, environmental sustainability, and anti-poverty strategies.
As participants gathered ahead of the procession, the Bring Your Own Baby Choir (BYOB Choir) got us into the spirit of the walk and taught us the words to their original song “I care, do you?”.
The Lamplighters Arts CIC brought with them two large lamplight puppets, one of which was made especially for the event with her dress covered in the messages gathered throughout the workshops.
Honouring carers
As we reached our halfway point, on the corner of St Nicholas St and Corn Street, Carina Andrews from the Invisible Army and Anndeloris Chacon from Bristol Black Carers gave speeches and reminded us that so many carers out there are not recognized as carers when they should.
The Invisible Army joined the event, bringing their Carers Strike placards. These placards feature messages from carers responding to the question: “If you were to join a carers strike, what would be written on your placard?”.
Powerful statements were carried through the city, amplifying the voices of those often unheard and unseen.
About the Caring Economy Campaign
The campaign is urging employers to proactively identify and support carers in their workforce. This includes conducting annual staff surveys to recognise carers and offering essential benefits such as:
- Flexible working arrangements as a standard practice
- Five additional paid days for caregiving needs, separate from sick leave and annual leave
- The option to take caring leave in small increments (e.g., hourly slots)
- Workplace nursery schemes to support parents returning to work
Find out more about the campaign here: https://www.bristolwomensvoice.org.uk/caring-economy/
