Carers Week 2023
Carers Week is a major week raising the awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges and pressures unpaid carers face, and recognising the vital contribution they make to families and communities across the UK. The week was organised by leading UK charities; Carers UK, Carers Trust, Age UK, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Oxfam, Rethink Mental Illness and The Lewy Body Society.
This year's theme was 'recognising and supporting carers in the community'. Unpaid carers are not being identified means they miss out on a range of practical and financial support available on them.
Carers Week 2023 research report
Carers Week charities commissioned YouGov to carry out polling of the general public, including adults who are currently providing unpaid care.
Carers Week 2023 press release
An estimated 19 million people in the UK who provide or have provided unpaid care have not identified as a carer. Find out more.
Carers Trust CEO Kirsty McHugh's Carers Week 2023 blog
Hear directly from our CEO, Kirsty McHugh, on the specific challenges facing unpaid carers this Carers Week especially focussing on employment. Many unpaid carers are forced out of work even though many want to be in paid employment alongside their caring role.
Read the full blog below and watch Kirsty's message this Carers Week.
CEO blog
CEO blog Kirsty McHugh outlines the specific employment challenges unpaid carers face and the steps that can be taken to get more unpaid carers into employment.
Carers Week news stories
Find out more about the news stories that came out of Carers Week 2023 including reports, resources, political events and partnerships.
MPs to hold first ever inquiry into how caring responsibilities affect life chances of young people
The first ever parliamentary inquiry into the impact of caring responsibilities on the life chances of young carers launches Wednesdat 7th June during Carers Week.
Unpaid carers take their message to Westminster
Unpaid carers are travelling to Westminster this Carers Week to tell parliamentarians about the very real pressures they are facing as a result of their caring role, and the need for greater support from the Government.
New resources for healthcare professionals to identify and support unpaid carers at hospital discharge launched
Carers Trust Wales have produced new resources for healthcare professionals on identifying, communicating with and supporting unpaid carers.
Carers Trust responds to school census showing massive under-representation of young carers
Carers Trust CEO, Kirsty McHugh, responds to the new school census released during Carers Week showing massive under-representation of young carers.
Calling for change to benefits rule that prevents young adult carers from participating in full-time education
The 21 hour rule pushes young adult carers away from education, and hinders life and career opportunities.
Unpaid carers meet MPs for Carers Week Networking Session
For a second day running unpaid carers from across the UK have descended on Westminster to call on MPs from all parties to provide more support for carers.
Carers' stories
Unpaid carers tell their own story. There are seven million unpaid cares in the UK that's 10% of the population and 60% of us are expected to be unpaid carers at some point in our lifetime.
Find out what's it's like to be an unpaid carer or if you're an unpaid carer yourself these stories show you're not alone in the pressures, challenges and stresses that come with caring.
A carer story was published each week day during Carers Week. If you're inspired by one of these stories to share your own story as an unpaid carer please contact web@carers.org.
Bethany's Story
Find out more about Bethany's caring journey of looking after her mother and brother. From juggling work responsibilities, her typical day through to advice for other carers.
Raymond's Story
Raymond has cared for his wife Doreen for over 17 years and used the support of a Carers Trust Network Partner and local carer centre to aid him in his caring role.
Ayisha's Story
My name is Ayisha, I’m 16 and I care for my younger brother Shayaan who is 9 years old and has severe autism.
Lynne's Story
My name is Lynne, I’m in my mid-50s, live in Thanet in Kent and I’m a full-time carer and new entrepreneur. I care for my beautiful mother who I have been caring full-time for, and living with, for two years now, although it had been part-time since about 2016.
Daniella's Story
Daniella is in her 20s and has been her mum's sole carer for over five years. Her mum, Rosemary's mobility issues are a constant, serious worry. But more recently, the day-to-day needs of paying for groceries, gas and electricity have become a much bigger concern.
Influencing policy during Carers Week
Carers Trust CEO Kirsty McHugh and six other Carers Week charities met Minister for Social Care Helen Whately on 11th May to discuss Carers Week.
The following topics were discussed; the opportunities to identify unpaid carers, how to address challenges faced by carers and connecting carers with support.
To mark Carers Week, Carers Trust worked with Denise Wilkins, an unpaid carer from our Network Partner Greenwich Carers to publish an article in the Guardian on the very real challenges facing unpaid carers. The article discusses the government's call for people to return to work while not addressing large social care issues.
Carers Employability Support and Employment Opportunities webinar (with the Civil Service Going Forward in Employment Team)
Carers Trust has a partnership with the Civil Service and through their Going Forward Into Employment (GFIE) scheme, we are signposting carers of all ages to dedicated roles across Civil Service departments.
The Carers Employability Support and Employment Opportunities webinar welcomed unpaid carers and carers centre staff on Wednesday 7th June. It informed on work, finance and the support unpaid carers receive going into employment.
Our partnership with the Civil Service brings together programmes on Young Carers Futures and Adults In Focus which will give specific advice about employment for the different age groups.
Find out out the partnership and what happened in the webinar in our GFiE blog.
What events happened during Carers Week?
There were a number of activities and events that happened on 5-11 June across the UK for all ages that can be attended in-person or online.
An array of exciting, informing and enjoyable Carers Week events were available from relaxed social events, sporting events, activities like free National Trust walks to group discussions about challenges carers face and talks offering advice for unpaid carers.
Check out the events that happened below.
Carers Trust events during Carers Week 2023
Carers Trust organised a wide range of activities and events during Carers Week. Find out here.
