Lidl Ireland today announced a new charity partnership with Family Carers Ireland, the national charity supporting around half a million family carers across the country.
With a pledge to raise €1 million over the next three years, funds raised by Lidl colleagues and customers will support the vital work of Family Carers Ireland who provide free supports and services such as of emergency care planning, counselling, emergency respite and respite provision, advocacy, peer support groups and information on rights and entitlements.
According to Family Carers Ireland, there are over 500,000 family carers across the country, but many others who are in a carer role are slipping through the net as they do not self-identify, seeing themselves only as a mum, dad, brother, sister or grandparent, but they are also a family carer.
Through the new partnership, Lidl will support Family Carers Ireland’s work to encourage family carers to self-identify and connect with the charity with the message ‘we see you.’
Lidl Ireland Colleague Research Findings
Research carried out by Lidl amongst its workforce revealed that two in five (38%) employees are currently in a caring role, with 39% of female colleagues and 35% of male colleagues fulfilling carer roles and 84% of those in caring roles being under the age of 44.
Amongst Lidl employees, the ability to self-identify as a carer is a significant challenge. Whilst a third of employees identified as a carer unprompted, a further one in ten colleagues said they met the criteria for a carer once provided with the definition. Almost 8 in 10 (78%) said that they knew someone amongst their family and friends who could be classified as a carer.
Looking to the future, three quarters of employees believe they will be in a caring role in the next 5, 10 or 15 years, with almost one in five expecting to take up carer responsibilities in the next five years. More than 60% of Lidl employees believe they will have caring responsibilities for a parent in the future with an illness, disability, mental health challenge or addiction who would require such support, whilst 15% believe they will have caring responsibilities for a child.
Maeve McCleane, Chief People Officer, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said:
“We know from Family Carers Ireland’s work, and from research with our own employees, that there is an unmet need in identifying and supporting people who are in carer roles, but slipping through the net. Caring for a family member or loved one can have a huge impact on the caregiver’s life and, as a family retailer committed to supporting customers at every life stage, this new charity partnership will enable us to better support our valued customers, colleagues and the wider public.
With a network of more than 180 stores across the country, and almost 2 million weekly shoppers, Lidl is uniquely positioned to support Family Carers Ireland in growing awareness of its services and connecting with caregivers at a local level.
With a commitment to raise €1 million for the charity over the next three years, our support will extend far beyond fundraising. Through our partnership, we will aim to raise awareness as to what it means to be a carer, champion the carer’s voice both through our stores and network of employees across the country and educate all on the challenges facing carers today to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the hundreds of thousands of family carers across the country.”
Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy, Family Carers Ireland, said:
“Earlier this year, we released our State of Caring Report for 2024 which highlighted some of the difficulties facing carers – from practical issues such as the escalating housing crisis and financial issues compounded by the cost-of-living crisis, to carer wellbeing challenges including severe loneliness which is currently experienced by nearly half of all family carers.
Despite current systemic inadequacies, carers make extraordinary contributions to the wellbeing of the individuals they care for and to the fabric of society and this partnership with Lidl Ireland will play a crucial role in bringing about significant and positive change in Irish society, ensuring family carers are properly recognised, supported and empowered and helping us to ensure that no one has to care alone.”
Supporting the launch, Fair City, Love/Hate and panto star Johnny Ward, said:
“I never would have considered myself a carer but when my mum became ill in 2019, I did what I thought was the right thing and moved back home to look after her. I consider myself very lucky to have the support of other family members and friends in providing care for mum, and I know there are others who are not as fortunate to have that sort of network.
Providing care for my mother was an obvious choice for me, and I am grateful I get to spend this time with her, but there are certainly lots of pressures and difficulties that come with a caring role. Sometimes having a family member dependent on your care can be very challenging and leaving them in the care of others comes with a real sense of guilt. It is brilliant that Family Carers Ireland can help carers to navigate these complex feelings and stresses with the many different services they provide all over the country.”
Commenting on her own experience of being a carer, Gina Daly said:
“I am a full-time carer for my amazing son Gene, who was born with Down syndrome in 2021, and it is a role I wouldn’t change for the world - but it has given me a deep understanding of the unique challenges carers face. I am extremely lucky to be in a position to be able to spend each day with Gene and it has been a beautiful journey, but I know not everyone is in the same situation to do so.
Caring can be both extremely rewarding and overwhelming; it brings moments of joy and connection, as well as times of solitude and strain. There's a particular kind of responsibility that comes with knowing someone depends on you fully, particularly your own child, and it's easy to feel the weight of it especially when you try to balance care for them as well as care for yourself.
That's why support networks and resources, like those provided by Family Carers Ireland, are so essential. They remind us that we're not alone in this journey and offer the tools we need to navigate the many aspects of caring.”
Lidl’s new charity partnership with Family Carers Ireland builds upon the retailer’s existing relationship with the charity which last year saw the introduction of its new ‘Caring Employers’ programme in association with Family Carers Ireland which provides tailored support and resources for Lidl’s own colleagues who are balancing work and caring commitments. This includes tailored activities and policy guidance to ensure that Lidl employees, who are in caring roles at home, are recognised, supported and accommodated in their careers.
