• New funding from Sport England will support the Carers Active Project, led by Carers UK, working to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for unpaid carers to be physically active. 

• Three quarters (76%) of carers aged 55+ do not feel that they are able to do as much exercise as they’d like to do. 

Carers UK is re-launching its successful Carers Active project following a new funding contract from Sport England of £362,184 for three years. 

There are 4.7 million unpaid carers in England looking after someone who is ill, elderly or disabled, and many struggle to prioritise their own health and wellbeing. Whilst physical activity can have important health benefits, three quarters (76%) of carers aged 55+ do not feel that they are able to do as much physical activity as they’d like to do. 

The Carers Active project aims to tackle health inequalities for carers by increasing their activity levels. This is particularly timely given the publication of the Government’s NHS 10-year plan which will focus on early intervention, predicting and preventing ill health rather than simply diagnosing and treating it.  

Previous funding for the project enabled Carers UK among other things to create the Carers Active Hub, a dedicated resource with exercise videos, activity ideas and carer stories used by over 8,000 carers per year. A further 461 carers attended online activity sessions.  

Carers taking part said it gave them the confidence to be active in a way that suited their needs. It also increased their feelings of self-worth and happiness by fostering social connections and reducing loneliness.  

With the re-launch of the project, the charity plans to build on its connections made with professionals in the sport, leisure, health and care sectors. It will facilitate local partnerships to grow understanding about the importance of physical activity for carers and increase the number of opportunities for carers to join in-person place based activities.  

Carers UK will also run its own mini campaigns and challenge events, promoting activities that are accessible, low-cost and can be embedded into the everyday lives of carers to inspire increased participation. 

Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, said: 

“If you’re caring for someone, you’re more likely to be in poor health. 43% of current or former carers have had a mental or physical health condition develop or become worse since taking on caring responsibilities. 

“Getting active can be a powerful antidote to this. In our State of Caring survey more than half (52%) of carers taking part in a physical activity told us that this reduces stress and anxiety, but often, time constraints, tiredness and affordability can get in the way. 

“We’re delighted to have secured funding from Sport England for another three years because we want to see an increase in accessible activities designed with carers in mind. We’re excited to see the re-launch of this important project giving carers much-needed opportunities to improve their health and meet others in their communities.”  

Aedan Wolton, Strategic Lead, Equality at Sport England said:  

“With the help of National Lottery funding, we are driven to help carers - who so often put the needs and wellbeing of others first- get active and benefit from the physical and mental health benefits of movement for themselves, in low and no-cost ways.” 

“Our partnership has already helped thousands of carers find ways to get physically active and we’re delighted to continue our work with Carers UK on this front.”