Carers UK has produced a briefing on the Health and Care Bill, and how it will affect unpaid carers, following introduction of the Bill to Parliament in July 2021.  We believe the Bill represents an opportunity for the Government to formally recognise the vital role played by carers supporting their relatives’ health, and ensure they aren’t overlooked but are visible and valued.

Research released for Carers Week has found that carers lost, on average, 25 hours of support a month they previously had from services or family and friends before the pandemic. 72% of carers have not had any breaks from their caring role at all. Of those who got a break, a third (33%) used the time to complete practical tasks or housework, and a quarter (26%) to attend their own medical appointments. Three quarters (74%) reported being exhausted as a result of caring during the pandemic, and more than a third

Carers UK has recently carried out new research looking at carers’ experiences when acting on behalf of the person they care for, which explored the main issues that carers experience when acting on behalf of the person they care for, how they interact with different companies and services, and what they would like to see from companies to help them to manage. Following the research, and consultation with carers and with companies, we have created a new Carer Friendly Company Blueprint. This incorporates those experi

Carers UK has launched a new research report which looks at the experiences of carers when they are helping manage services and accounts on behalf of the person they care for. Based on a survey of over 6,000 carers and focus groups with carers, we found there was a significant minority of carers who found interacting with services and companies challenging.

Our new ‘Carers and Physical Activity' report looks at ways to support carers over the age of 55 in England to take part in more physical activity, to both reduce loneliness and improve their wellbeing. The report was supported by Sport England, with funds from the National Lottery. The research examines the barriers for carers in being active, and shares best practice examples and recommendations to make physical activity more accessible to reduce the health inequalities carers face.