Carers UK is thrilled to have been selected as the next charity partner of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) by its new President, Stacey Lucas. Stacey has a personal connection to caring, having been a carer to her mother for many decades and she is keen to promote awareness of the enormous contribution that carers make.

As the trade association for companies within the building energy management and automation space, the partnership with the BCIA will provide the opportunity to engage its 170 member organisations in Carers UK’s work, shine a spotlight on the important role that unpaid carers play in society and raise vital funds so that no carer feels isolated and alone.

Laura Doughty, Director of Income Generation & Communications at Carers UK said: “We are so grateful to be named charity of the year by the Buildings Controls Industry Association (BCIA). There are 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK looking after an ill, elderly or disabled relative or friend. Many are under intense emotional and financial pressure as they juggle work and caring responsibilities, often struggling to make ends meet, choosing sometimes between eating and heating their homes. We often hear that unpaid carers feel forgotten and invisible, yet the care they deliver is crucial to those they are helping and the value equivalent of £162 billion – that's a second NHS.”

“We thank the BCIA for acknowledging the important contribution unpaid carers make to society through this partnership and we look forward to the two years ahead.”

Carers UK offers a lifeline to carers who provide unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older. With 2 in 3 of us estimated to become a carer in our lifetime, (including many who may care more than once) caring is something that will affect almost all of us.

It has been a particularly difficult period for unpaid carers as they have had to navigate both a global pandemic and a recurrent cost of living crisis. Research* demonstrates that more than three quarters of all carers (79%) feel stressed or anxious, almost half (49%) feel depressed, and half (50%) feel lonely. There has never been a greater need to support those providing unpaid care and we welcome the BCIA’s support.

*State of Caring 2023: the impact of caring on health report