Carers Rights Day takes place on 20 November, and this year the theme is 'Know your rights, use your rights.’
It’s a day that’s all about highlighting the rights of the UK’s 5.8 million carers to make sure that carers are aware of their rights. And just as importantly, it’s about carers having the information they need to be able to use their rights.
That’s why Carers Trust is using Carers Rights Day to share important resources about carers’ rights. For example, you can follow the links below to find out all about rights for young carers.
We’re also sharing an interactive video that helps adult carers understand their rights and how to use them.
And we’re using the day as an opportunity to repeat the call we made earlier this year for the UK Government to give carers the legal right to a break. Our powerful Protest from Home gave carers everywhere the chance to demand the right to a break, without having to leave their homes.
Our resources to help you understand your rights and how to use them
It can sometimes be hard for carers to know what their rights are and how to access them. So, we spoke to carers at Camden Carers Centre to put their knowledge to the test...
Young Carers’ Rights
Young carers also have specific rights. Though largely similar to those of their adult counterparts, young carers (under 18) and young adult carers (25 and under) have rights that are slightly more tailored to their experiences. For example, to support them in school or higher education.
Some key rights for young and young adult carers are:
- The right to an assessment of their needs – no matter how old they are, who they care for, or how much care they provide.
- The right to not have to take on caring responsibilities which impact on their health, wellbeing or education.
- The right to have their voices heard if the person they care for is being discharged from hospital.
- The right to unpaid carers’ leave.
Check out our interactive guide to your rights as a young carer or young adult carer: Know Your Rights: A Guide for Young Carers.
Our work on carers’ rights:
Campaigning and lobbying:
Care is often 24/7. And carers are hardly ever able to take a break. So how could carers possibly take time out to protest for their rights? This question launched our ‘Protest from Home’ campaign earlier this year.
The protest saw carers calling on the UK government to make respite breaks for carers a legal right – from their own homes. We asked carers across the country to tell us what they’d do if they had a break, even just for 10 minutes, and the result was incredibly hard-hitting.
Our protest secured over 13,000 signatures and we handed it in to senior officials at the Department for Health and Social Care in September.
On Carers Rights Day (20 November) we are still waiting for a response from the Government. We will continue our lobbying work to secure the vital right to a break for carers.
Influencing policy:
Our policy team will be spread across the UK on Carers Rights Day, ensuring Carers Trust has a seat at the table, advocating for carers in important discussions about their rights.
We will be at Camden Carers Centre, where the Casey Commission team will be visiting to talk to carers.
We will also be attending the re-launch of Durham County Council’s ‘No Wrong Doors Memorandum of Understanding’, which aims to improve the identification and support of young carers and their families.
Our Scotland team will be hosting a ‘Carers Rights Day Addressing Carer Poverty Roundtable’ at the Scottish Parliament, chaired by Carol Mochan MSP, with input from Tom Arthur MSP.
Our network partners:
Across our network of 135 local carer organisations, Carers Rights Day is a great opportunity for on-the-ground tailored support for carers. Here is a snapshot:
North Lincolnshire Carers Support Service is hosting an event including sessions around carer wellbeing and rights, with 20 local services joining. There will also be a showcase of performances highlighting opportunities in the community for carers and those they care for, including a dementia choir.
Carers centres in North-East Lincolnshire and York are hosting drop-in sessions where carers can speak to a range of health and social care professionals. They can get advice on benefits entitlement, energy saving and more.
If you are a carer, we strongly encourage you to take a look through our resources and familiarise yourself with your rights. Knowing your rights is the first step to using them to advocate for yourself and those you care for.