Carers UK releases good practice briefing for supporting LGBTQ+ carers  

• The briefing follows Carers UK’s landmark report examining LGB carers’ experiences of the pandemic  
• Many LGBTQ+ carers report feeling isolated, and struggle to access inclusive services  

 

Carers UK has released a new best practice guide to encourage organisations how best to support unpaid carers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or other. 

 

The guide follows Carers UK’s report on the experiences of LGB1 carers during and since the Covid-19 pandemic. The report found that LGB carers were more anxious about their current financial situation, and more likely to say that they were struggling financially, compared to heterosexual carers. Additionally, the research revealed that LGB carers were more likely to feel lonely or isolated, and to have poor mental health.  

 

LGBTQ+ carers face a number of specific challenges in their caring role. These could include caring for family members who do not recognise, or have rejected, their LGBTQ+ identity, or younger LGBTQ+ carers having fewer opportunities to explore their identity. These challenges are complex and can mean LGBTQ+ carers experience increased isolation and discrimination when attempting to access services.  

 

Carers UK’s best practice guide provides examples of good practice from organisations across the UK that encompass LGBTQ+ inclusive carer support programmes. This includes Wandsworth Carers Centre, LGBT Health and Wellbeing in Scotland, and Swindon Carers.  

 

 

 Dave Williams, Chair of Carers UK’s LGBTQ+ advisory group said: 

 

“Carers who identify as LGBTQ+ face a unique set of challenges it is important that all services and charitable organisations working with carers consider those challenges and their needs.  




“I encourage all caring organisations to read the best practice briefing and be considerate of LGBTQ+ carers by ensuring, for example, that they are involved in all key areas such as policy, practice and research and that their specific needs are acknowledged and accommodated.”

You can read the best practice guide here. 

  

Notes to Editors 

Carers UK, in partnership with Carers Trust, received funding from the Covid 19 Support Fund to support the “Making Carers Count” project. This part of the three-year project seeks to understand the experiences of four traditionally under-represented groups of carers both during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.  

 

Due to the sample sizes being too small Carers UK was unable to include analysis about trans carers in this particular briefing. Trans carers are likely to be further disadvantaged and have their own unique challenges. Carers UK is committed to research that involves trans carers and specific and targeted research is required to fully understand their experiences and the types of support that are most beneficial.