Free e-bikes, discounted bus travel and other incentives are
needed to encourage low paid workers to use green transport, says
Campaign for Better Transport in a report today (Monday).
The charity is calling on the Government and employers to help
care staff make the switch through car sharing and clubs, schemes
to buy or lease electric vehicles (EVs) and other measures to cut
CO2 emissions.
Backed by UNISON, the union for social care staff, the report
reveals how communities depend on these frontline workers to look
after elderly and vulnerable people in their own homes.
Greening social
care shows how domiciliary staff rely heavily on cars in
order to carry out their jobs effectively, including meeting
tight schedules. More than a third (36%) say they drive over 400
miles a month for work.
More than two thirds (71%) travel between home visits in their
own vehicles, of which the majority are petrol or diesel, making
a significant contribution to air pollution and carbon emissions.
Only one in ten (10%) travel by public transport for their work
because many say they find it too unreliable or infrequent.
Fuel costs are a huge burden on home care workers, according to
Greening social care. More than half (51%) of home care
workers spend over £100 a month on petrol or diesel for work,
compared to a quarter (25%) of all care workers.
EVs are cheaper to run, particularly if charging at home. Yet a
majority (61%) of home care workers believe they are too
expensive to buy, and only a small proportion (2%) said they own
a hybrid or EV.
In addition to incentives, such as EV leasing or purchasing
schemes, employers must also rethink how they allocate care
visits, says the report.
This would significantly reduce the travel distances required of
domiciliary carers, decrease fuel expenses and the impact on the
environment. Better route planning would also improve home
carers' efficiency and give them more time with the people they
look after.
Campaign for Better Transport director of policy and campaigns
Silviya Barrett said: "Hundreds of thousands of people rely on
care workers daily for their most vital needs, but these workers
are low-paid and highly dependent on cars to do their jobs.
"Policymakers and employers must make it easier for care staff to
transition to cleaner transport, rather than burdening or
excluding them.
"This report shows how targeted support can reduce emissions in a
fair and efficient way, while making life easier and cheaper for
this essential workforce. It can serve as a practical example for
other critical sectors too.”
UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said: "Home care workers
provide an essential service in communities. They must not be
left behind as the public sector moves towards greener working
practices.
"Many are expected to travel hundreds of miles to look after
elderly and vulnerable people. Employers and the government need
to make it easier for care staff not to rely on their cars for
work.
"E-bikes, subsidised public transport and other incentives are
needed urgently to help them make the switch."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
– Click here to access the
full report Greening social care: a just transition to
cleaner transport.
– The report was based on a survey of 1,677 care staff
between 21 May and 28 August 2024. A fifth (20%) were
homecare workers, with the remainder working in
residential/nursing care (29%), supported living (24%), social
work (5%) and other settings (22%). The responses of homecare
workers were compared to those of all respondents. Two focus
groups were also held during the same period with 14 care
workers.
