About Carers Week
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. Carers Week is led by Carers UK with the support of a number of other charities.
Carers Week 2023: 'Recognising and supporting carers in the community'
The theme for Carers Week 2023 is 'Recognising and supporting carers in the community'.
This Carers Week, we want communities across the UK to come together to recognise the huge contribution unpaid carers make to society. Politicians, employers, health and social services, businesses, education providers and members of the public all have a role to play in raising awareness of caring and making sure carers are able to access the information and support they need.
Get involved
We all have a role to play in recognising and supporting carers in the community, whether it's by providing support to a member of your local community group or connecting with a family member or friend who is caring for someone.
You can find out more about Carers Week and how to get involved at carersweek.org
Carers Week 2022 campaign: A Recovery and Respite Plan for unpaid carers
Carers UK and the six other charities involved with Carers Week 2022 called on Government to outline additional support for carers across a range of areas – including breaks, respite and care services, infection control, identification of carers, financial help, and support to juggle work and care. Doing so would recognise the enormous impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on carers’ lives, as well as the people they care for, and help to mitigate some of the negative impacts that caring can have on carers’ physical and mental health.
Despite the call for a Recovery and Respite Plan receiving support from MPs on a cross-party basis, as well as the APPG on Carers, the Government responded to a joint letter, sent by the Chief Executives of all the charities involved in Carers Week 2022 (see below), that they had ‘no plans’ to do so.
Carers UK and the other charities involved continue to push for the implementation of a Recovery and Respite Plan; our hope is this will lead to the creation of a National Carer’s Strategy in 2022/2023.
You can find out more about the campaign and read our open letter to government here.