Who are carers?

Carers provide unpaid care and support to ill, frail or disabled friends or family members.

People from all walks of life and backgrounds are carers - over 3 in 5 people in the UK will become carers at some time in their lives. Caring can be a rewarding experience, yet many face isolation, poverty, discrimination and ill-health.

Meet just a few of the UK's six million carers who talk about how caring has affected their lives -

Alex Robinson
I'm a 21 year old student and a carer for my fiancé Sarah, who has Cystic Fibrosis. Me and Sarah live together in Bristol where I'm studying law at the University of the West of England.
Bushra Tahir
I have been a carer for my husband for the last 27 years. I have also become a carer for my mother and my disabled sister who has learning disabilities. Over this time my responsibilities increased, and the demand of my caring role is huge.
Don Jones
I’ve cared for my sister Sheila for over 15 years. Sheila was born with learning disabilities, including autism, and needs round the clock care. Within months of caring for Sheila I realised I had no option but to give up work.
John Pearson
When caring takes over your life - it either hits you like a train or it creeps up on you. When our son was diagnosed with severe learning disabilities that was our train crash. Caring for my 85 year old mother-in-law, who has dementia, crept up on us.
Lisa Crowley
I work full time as a personal assistant for a Director in BT. I am also a full time carer for my mum Jean. Life for me as a carer is difficult to juggle with a full time career but my mum is very much worth it though.
Olivia Scott
I began to care for my husband Ronald 15 years ago but during that period we lost everything. Our savings diminished, our house had to be sold, and eventually we became dependant on the state.
Sharon Coleman
When my son Oliver was born with several disabilities I was treated differently at work. I won a case in the European Court of Justice and now carers have protection from discrimination by association with disability.
Sue Cuomo
I'm retired and I care for my Mum who has Alzheimers and a number of mobility related problems. Being retired I can’t claim Carer's Allowance but I don’t stop caring just because I've retired.
Wendy Savage
I've been a carer for my two sons and also my husband. I feel that very few people in the outside world truly understand caring and mental illness.

For more detail, read our Facts about Carers briefing which contains key facts and figures drawn from various surveys and research, looking at who carers are across the UK - employment, health, age, tasks, finances and poverty, and rights more...

Page Last Modified: 24/06/2009

Who are carers?

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