COUNTDOWN to Carers Week 9 - 15 June
I Care About Equality for Carers this #CarersWeek. Do You?
Carers UK leads Carers Week each year. The charity has been instrumental in raising awareness, conducting much-needed research to advocate for policy changes and providing expert advice to millions of unpaid carers in the UK.
This post amplifies the Carers Week information, resources and links, so that you can spread the word ‘I care about equality for carers’ this #CarersWeek
Planning an activity for #CarersWeek? Add your activity here on the Carers Week website and discover what else is happening across the country.
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
There are 5.8 million people in the UK caring for a family member, friend or neighbour who is ill, older or disabled. Despite contributing an estimated £184 billion to the UK economy each year, many carers feel undervalued and unsupported.
Carers Week 2025 is organised by Carers UK, alongside charity supporters Age UK, Carers Trust, MND Association, Oxfam GB, Rethink Mental Illness, The ME Association and The Lewy Body Society.
Together, the eight charities are welcoming individuals and organisations to join them in raising awareness, to increase visibility for carers with decision makers, services, employers, communities, and businesses.
Carers Week 2025
The theme for Carers Week 2025 is 'Caring About Equality' highlighting the inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health. Far too often, carers of all-ages miss out on opportunities in their education, careers, or personal lives, just because of their caring role.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“Caring for a loved one should never be a reason for facing inequality, but sadly this is a reality for many in the UK. Unpaid carers are desperate for a break, for better health and social care provision, financial support and equality in the workplace. Over half say they need better understanding and recognition from the public.
“Carers Week 2025 is a crucial opportunity to increase awareness, highlighting those who provide vital care to family members, friends or neighbours when they need it most. We want to see a future where they have the right support and the same opportunities to lead healthy and financially secure lives alongside their caring role.”
Unpaid carers are the backbone of our society, propping up fragile health and social care systems and providing essential care to friends and family who need their support. Despite carers’ huge contribution to our communities, many carers still feel undervalued and unsupported.
Inequalities can negatively impact all aspects of carers’ lives, putting carers at a greater risk of poor mental and physical health, social isolation, financial hardship, and poverty. Far too often, carers miss out on opportunities in their education, careers, or personal lives, just because of their caring role.
The inequalities that carers face mean that:
70% of carers have a long-term physical or mental health condition, disability or illness compared to 59% of non-carers1
the poverty rate for carers is 50 % higher than for people who do not provide care2
young adult carers are 38% less likely to achieve a university degree than their peers3
1 in 4 carers of working carers have had to take on a lower paid or more junior role. 4
Carers should have the same life chances and opportunities as people without caring responsibilities. To make this happen, action is needed right across the board, with government, schools, colleges, universities, workplaces and health and social care services all having a vital role to play.
Get involved
Support Carers Week 2025 and join the call for greater equality for unpaid carers.
Whether you are a carer or someone being cared for; an organisation, school or charity; a politician, health or social care professional; or just someone who cares about unpaid carers - there are plenty of ways to get involved in Carers Week.
There are lots of ways to get involved in #CarersWeek!
Find out more here 👉 www.carersweek.org
Planning an activity for #CarersWeek? Add your activity here and find out what else is going on up and down the country
Join us in saying ‘We care about equality for carers’ this #CarersWeek
Social media graphics for use on social media can be downloaded here.
Helpful Resources and Downloads to help you plan an activity or write a social media post or article
Read more about the need for action on inequalities impacting unpaid carers:
Add your voice to the campaign
Press the ❤️, restack, and share this article so more people have the resources they need to spread the word, raise awareness, and reflect on the evidence shared about the experiences of unpaid carers.
GP Patient Survey (2024).
Carers UK and WPI Economics (2024) Poverty amongst unpaid carers in the UK.
Baowen Xue, Rebecca E. Lacey, Giorgio Di Gessa, Anne McMunn (2023) Does providing informal care in young adulthood impact educational attainment and employment in the UK?
Carers UK (2024) State of Caring 2024 - The impact of caring on employment.