• 45% of people who are currently caring say they do not feel their role as an unpaid carer is understood and valued by their community  

• 32% of current and former carers who felt that organisations or services were not carer friendly said this had impacted their physical or mental health  

• 38% said this made it more difficult to look after the person they care for  

• Huge drive to help build carer friendly communities launched for Carers Week 2026 

Findings mark the start of Carers Week which takes place from 8-14 June. The theme of this year’s Carers Week, backed by headline sponsor TSB Bank, is ‘Building Carer Friendly Communities’.   

A significant number of people looking after a family member or friend do not feel that their role as an unpaid carer is understood or valued by their community.   

New research for Carers Week 2026 has found that close to half (45%) of people in Scotland who are currently caring believe their role is overlooked.  

An Opinium poll of over 4,000 members of the public across the UK found that carers in Scotland often find it difficult to participate in their communities. Nearly a quarter (28%) of current and former carers said they had been unable to take part in local groups or activities while caring and a fifth (20%) said they had been unable to maintain a healthy lifestyle.   

Every day, nearly 1,000 people in Scotland take on unpaid caring responsibilities. Without the right support, this can affect their ability to look after their own health and wellbeing, as well as household finances, employment, education and social opportunities.  

32% of current and former carers in Scotland who felt that organisations or services were not carer friendly said this had a negative impact on their physical or mental health and 38% said it made it more difficult to look after the person they care for. Others said it had resulted in additional costs or lost income and feelings of loneliness.   

A carer friendly community is a place, space or organisation that values carers and does something practical to support them by identifying carers, listening and responding to their experiences so that they are not left to cope alone.  

Lesley, a carer from Scotland said:  

"A carer friendly community would change my world. I think people are scared they might have to get involved. But it's not about getting involved; it's about being there instead of turning a blind eye. Even a carer aware, or carer considerate community would make all the difference. It would be easy for individuals in the community to become carer aware - for example, ask me if I need anything when you are going to the shops, or if you are making soup, make double and leave half on our doorstep.

“One thing I would love isn’t even really for me. I’d love to see Mum receive a wee card or a note through the door from time to time from anyone in the community she has been part of for over 50 years, and which she served in a very big way for decades, telling her that they are thinking about her... thinking about us. That would help us both to feel part of our community and much less isolated.” 

Results from the new research for Carers Week found some organisations and services are seen as more carer friendly than others. Whilst 68% of current and former carers in Scotland using a pharmacy said it was carer friendly, nearly 1 in 6 (17%) said that workplaces or services were not carer friendly. 

Notes to Editors  

Carers Week charities commissioned Opinium to carry out polling of over 4,100 people aged 18 and over in the UK in March 2026, including adults who are currently providing unpaid care. Polling was boosted in Northern Ireland and Wales to ensure we had sufficiently large sample sizes. This research suggests that millions of unpaid carers would benefit from more support from their communities. This year’s research report has been sponsored by TSB, and we are grateful for their support.  

Every day, nearly 1,000 people in Scotland take on unpaid caring responsibilities. Published by Carers Scotland in 2022, statistical analysis by the Centre for Care, University of Sheffield, showed that on average nearly 1000 people in Scotland become an unpaid carer every single day – roughly 6,500 each week: https://www.carersuk.org/news/nearly-1000-people-in-the-scotland-become-unpaid-carers-every-day/  

Media contact 

 For further information, spokespeople and case study requests, and latest statistics, please contact the Carers Scotland communications and media team:  

• Christine Robertson, Media and Communications Officer 

[email protected] 07864814804 

• Fiona Collie, Head of Public Affairs and Communications