Support from Pears Foundation
Pears Foundation is one of our longest-standing and most generous funders, having given £6.2m since it first became involved in supporting unpaid carers in 2002.
Pears Foundation’s generosity and flexible approach to funding enables us to invest its donations where we most need to, including support for core funding.
Pears Foundation is a long-standing supporter of our policy and campaigning work and an incredibly generous funder of our grants programmes. These grants provide direct financial support to unpaid carers experiencing particular hardship who apply directly to us, or via local Carers Trust Network Partners.
“I cannot thank this wonderful organisation enough… for supporting me to buy a washing machine. Thank you so much”
Matthew, a carer for his wife Jenny who has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy
We are so grateful to Sir Trevor Pears, his brothers Mark and David, and the Pears family, and to those at Pears Foundation for their close interest and long-term commitment to supporting unpaid carers around the UK.
In 2024/25, we have supported unpaid carers with:
1,136 grants towards household goods, including:
- 81 washing machines and 55 fridge/freezers
- 58 beds and bedding
294 grants towards respite, including:
- 270 holidays and time away from caring
325 grants towards transport needs and skills development, including:
- 83 driving lessons and tests
- 17 grants to help develop skills.
Claire is in her 30s and has 2 children, one of whom, Danny, has Autism. Danny is non-verbal and finds it difficult to communicate his wants and needs, this can mean that his behaviour is very challenging as he becomes easily frustrated. Danny doesn’t sleep well during the night so Claire also gets very little sleep, leaving her exhausted each day. Claire has recently moved to a new flat which is unfurnished and has no washing machine, meaning that she has to take her washing to the launderette which is time-consuming and tiring. Claire is struggling financially due to the rising cost of fuel and energy bills and her local carers service have supported her with accessing a food bank. Claire has been awarded a grant of £300 towards the cost of a washing machine which will make a huge difference to the time she has to manage her demanding caring role as well as easing some of the stress she is under.
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto.com/insta-photos. All library photos posed by models. Please note, identities and photos of carers have been changed in the interest of privacy.