Every year, thousands of carers and former carers take part in our annual State of Caring survey, helping us build the most comprehensive picture of unpaid carers' lives in Scotland and across the UK.
Your experiences matter, and by taking part you will help ensure that carers' voices are heard by policymakers, health and care services, employers and the wider public.
The findings from this year's survey will play a vital role in shaping Carers Scotland's campaigns, research and policy work over the coming year. At a time when a new Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament have been elected and decisions are being made about the health, social care and support for carers, it has never been more important that carers have their say.
Please take part in the survey today.
Carers’ collective experiences are a vital source of evidence not only for Carers Scotland and Carers UK, but by many other organisations including Governments, local authorities, health and social care services, charities and carers groups.
Last year we used carers’ responses to the survey to:
- campaign during the Scottish election, with commitments for carers in all of the main party manifestos, including in the plans of the new Scottish Government.
- contribute to legislation that passed which will deliver a right to a break from caring and set timescales for Adult Carer Support Plans and Young Carer Statements.
- help deliver a new Carer Additional Person Payment, providing some additional financial support for carers who care for more than one person.
- provide evidence to the Scottish Government on the impact of caring on health and how the NHS can better support carers.
- call for reform of Carer's Allowance overpayments, contributing to Government action to review thousands of cases including of carers in Scotland.
- continue campaigning for paid Carer's Leave to help carers remain in employment.
- submit evidence to the State Pension Review by demonstrating the long-term financial impact of caring.
- publish reports and policy briefings on issues including the cost of caring and the reasons carers leave paid employment.
The findings were also featured on national and local television and radio programmes helping to raise awareness of caring across Scotland.
We recognise that caring affects many areas of life, including health, finances, work and wellbeing. To understand these experiences properly, we have asked a number of detailed questions, and the survey may take around 30 minutes to complete.
You can skip some questions if you have limited time. If you don't get to the end of the survey, your responses will be saved and sent to us, even if you don’t finish. However, please continue with the questions as far as possible. This allows us to advocate better for carers.
We know carers are busy and your time is valuable, so we very much appreciate everyone who takes the time to get involved. We read every response we receive, and every answer helps strengthen the evidence we use to campaign for change.
The survey closes on 9th August and we will share the findings later this year.
Thank you for helping us continue to advocate on behalf of carers across the UK.
Find out more about the state of Caring survey 2026 and submit your response here.