Today marks the start of Carers Week 2024 and the publication of Carers UK’s Carers Week report: No Choice But To Care.

The report shows that 10 million adults – 62% of current and former unpaid Carers – had no choice in taking on their caring role due to a lack of alternative care options, according to analysis of YouGov polling data.

This research revealed that the impact of caring has been more negative than positive for all areas unpaid Carers were asked about, particularly for their

The negative impacts as a result of caring were felt most strongly by those who had no choice but to take on an unpaid caring role as well as women and those aged 45-54.

Gender Differences
The report also found that women were more likely than men to say unpaid caring had a ‘very’ negative impact on mental health (27% compared with 19%) and on their job and ability to work (22% compared with 16%).

A higher proportion of women said unpaid caring had a ‘very’ or ‘slightly’ negative impact on their relationships compared with men (42% compared with 30%) and on their physical health compared to men (59% compared with 42%).

Age Differences
Those aged 45 to 54 were most likely to have no choice when taking on an unpaid caring role (70%) and were most likely to say that unpaid caring has had a ‘very’ or ‘slightly’ negative impact on their finances and savings (56%), job and ability to work (64%) and pensions (30%), compared to other age groups.**

Dorothy Cook is an unpaid Carer from Bristol. She stopped working over a decade ago to care for her husband Melvin, who has a rare brain disease. Dorothy said:

“If I had been asked 15 years ago where I saw my life in 2024, I would never have dreamed it would be as a full-time carer. I had started my own business and it was thriving. I worked long hours and it wasn’t always easy. But I will honestly say that being a full-time unpaid carer has been the toughest and most challenging role of all.

“I was forced into giving up my dream life, job, friends, relationships and my physical and mental health suffered. I am financially poorer. I do it because of my love for someone who has found themselves dependent on me. I also have little choice about caring because the system is unable to provide the care my husband needs. It leaves me without enough breaks and the essential support I also need for my own health. I’m often caring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which is exhausting.”

Read the full report.


National Carers Strategy is needed in England and Wales
The report recommends the establishment of a National Carers Strategy, review and reform of social security benefits for Carers and better workplace protections and workplace support for unpaid carers. To ensure Carers’ health and wellbeing is better supported, the report recommends a new duty on the NHS to have regard to unpaid Carers as well as further investment in social care and Carers’ breaks. The report also makes recommendations aimed at employers, public bodies and specific recommendations for the UK nations.

In this General Election year, Carers UK is campaigning for better recognition and commitment for unpaid Carers from all political parties.

An additional YouGov Political Omnibus poll of over 4,200 members of the public showed widespread backing for more support to be given to unpaid Carers. 73% said unpaid Carers should receive more support from the next Government, particularly financial support and investment in social care.

Sign Carers UK’s Open Letter to the Prime Minister
We encourage you to raise your voice in support of Carers in the run up to the General Election on 4 July. Please sign Carers UK’s open letter to the future Prime Minister. You can also write to the local candidates standing in your constituency.

Carers Week is a time to recognise and celebrate the incredible contributions of unpaid carers in our community. From saving the economy millions to providing essential care for loved ones, Carers play a vital role. This year’s theme, “Putting Carers on the Map,” aims to raise awareness about the challenges they face and ensure better support for their needs.

Here’s how you can get involved online if you are unable to attend in-person events.

Online Carers Coffee Catch-ups
Connect, share and find support with other Carers by joining a Carers Coffee Catch-up with our partner Kissing it Better on Mondays and Fridays (10.30am – 11.30am) or join an evening session on Thursdays (5.00pm – 6.00pm).
Register to join here.

Or you can email mail@kibmail.co.uk or call 07831 136152.

Online Discovery Session
If you juggle paid work alongside your unpaid caring role, find out about the NEW Carer’s Leave Act at this free online event.

The new Carer Friendly Wiltshire online support service, provided by Forward Carers CIC, is dedicated to anyone living in Wiltshire who is supporting a friend or family member on a regular basis, regardless of whether or not they are officially recognised as a Carer. 

Woman holding a mobile phone showing the new Carer Friendly Wiltshire website for unpaid carers in Wiltshire
Rachel Close, Programme Manager, Forward Carers. Carer Friendly Wiltshire.

With a real-time chat function available 24/7 and the option to book a call with a Carer Coach for support during their caring journey, this new online support service is accessible to Carers of all ages, with age-appropriate resources available to Carers as young as 10 years old through to adulthood. Carers can access their Carer ID Card, helpful video content, an events calendar, a free and confidential Benefits Calculator and join regular virtual support groups. Innovative online resources and tools enable Carers to carry out their own online wellbeing check, self-help plan, and contingency plan to ensure all aspects of their caring responsibilities have been considered and support is in place to help Carers continue to provide support for as long as they need to, avoiding the worry of burn out. 

Wiltshire Council, in collaboration with BSW Integrated Care Board, announced their partnership with Forward Carers CIC to provide this new initiative that will complement existing support services offered by Carers Together Wiltshire and Community First, whilst providing additional resources for Carers that are available throughout the day and night, to best suit their needs, particularly those still in employment or education who might struggle to access services delivered within normal working hours. 

Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said:  

“We want our unpaid Carers to feel supported to be able to enjoy life and achieve their goals and ambitions while they are caring. We are ensuring the face-to-face support continues but also there will be online help 24/7 so unpaid Carers know they are not alone and they have a network to reach out to.” 

Carers in Wiltshire will continue to receive a Carer Card that will now be issued by Forward Carers. The Carer ID Card includes a passport sized photo of the Carer, the council’s emergency contact details and their own emergency contact. A physical card and a digital download for smartphones are available free of charge to Carers who live in the county. 

Simon Fenton, Chief Executive of Forward Carers said: 

“We are thrilled to provide online support to unpaid Carers in Wiltshire. Carers sometimes care for more than one person and often juggle lots of tasks including work. Young Carers also multitask between being a Carer and being at school or some other form of education, leaving little time for themselves or to physically reach out for support.

As all of our support is online, Carers can get support at a time that is convenient for them and have the option of joining an online community of Carers to get valuable peer to peer support. Rather than spending time searching for answers, our virtual resources (including toolkits and guides) provide information and advice about caring at the click of a button. We hope our support will make a difference and improve the lives of all Carers living in Wiltshire.” 

 

 

Forward Carers is excited to provide a dedicated website for Adult Carers and Young Carers aged 10 to 18 years old, plus access to our FREE Carers ID Card that holds emergency contact details!

We are an award-winning not-for-profit Community Interest Company and have been empowering unpaid Carers across England to live fulfilling lives since 2014. Our mission is to create Carer Friendly Communities, places where everyone plays a role in supporting Carers and Carers feel understood and valued by the whole community. Carers are at the heart of everything we do, including being a Carer friendly Employer, with many members of our team being unpaid Carers alongside their paid work with us.

We plan to improve the wellbeing of thousands of Carers by implementing our “Carer Friendly Wiltshire” programme through online support. Our experience has taught us that online support can be particularly helpful for Carers, who are juggling family life, have limited ability to leave home, shielding care responsibilities and working unpaid Carers.

Ever found yourself on the internet at all times of day and night researching or looking for support? We will also be working with your library’s, Carers support services and digital inclusion volunteers to ensure all Carers, including those who may need support with the digital world, get access to our support and Carer ID Cards.

Our website will include:

We will help you to get to know us! Our online “Discovery Sessions” will tell you all about our services – so you can get the most out of them, offer information around Carers Rights so you are well informed, as well as themed events as requested by you.

All this and more, as we learn from the valuable local knowledge and ideas of Carers in Wiltshire, and work with all the Services and partners in our mutual aim for a Carer Friendly Wiltshire.

Adult Carers

If you are aged 18 and above, complete our Self-Assessment Form to access Carers Together support, request a Carer’s Assessment and get your Carers ID Card. Get help today.

Young Carers
If you are aged 10 to 18 years old, complete our Self-Assessment Form to access the Integrated Front Door Service for a Young Carer’s Assessment and get your Carers ID Card. Get help today.

Join our Carer Friendly Community 

By completing the relevant form above, you will automatically be signed up to our Carer Friendly Community so that you can access our private Facebook Carer Group, receive regular emails as well as, accessing our toolkits and guides about your caring role.

Stay up-to-date with all our news by liking and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

There are millions of Carers in the UK on low or no pay, with many of them missing out on vital help in the form of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Credit.

Did you know that the amount of Carer’s Allowance you’re able to receive has just increased by 6.7%? This means, if you’re already receiving Carer’s Allowance, it will automatically go from £76.75 a week up to £81.90 – a £267 increase for the year.

If you’re aged 16+, earning less than £139 a week (after tax), and providing 35+ hours of weekly care for someone who needs daily living help and is claiming certain benefits, you may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance.

More than seven million UK households could be missing out on benefits like council tax discounts, according to analysis from online benefits calculator Entitledto. Benefits and other government support are not just for those who are out of work. Millions of households on low incomes are also losing out.

Many benefits and discounts aren’t granted automatically; depending on what you’re eligible for, you’ll need to apply to your local council or HMRC. Don’t miss out on money that you are entitled to. The cost-of-living crisis is affecting most of the country especially if you are unable to work because you or a family member has a disability or long-term illness. Ensuring that you check that you are receiving all the state benefits that you are entitled to is a must.

Carers in Wiltshire

If you’re caring for someone in Wiltshire, you can access our Benefits Calculator to see what you may be entitled to. You can also register for a Carers ID Card, access online support groups and self-refer for help from local services.

Use our free and confidential ‘entitledto’ Benefits Calculator to find out what benefits you may be entitled to. You can return to your results later – just take a note of your reference code. Our Benefits Calculator will provide comprehensive welfare entitlement information, relevant to your situation.

It will be helpful to have various documents to hand (and for your partner if you have one) as follows, income details as well as the income of others living with you, rent/mortgage payments, your annual council tax bill as well as any savings/investments/capital you may have.

Check here to see what State Benefits you are entitled to.

To register for a Carers ID Card, access online support groups and self-refer for help from local services, simply complete this form if you are aged over the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, you can access the same support, but you will need to complete a different form here.