The 2026 Senedd election comes at a pivotal time for unpaid carers in Wales.
With research painting a bleak picture for carers’ lives, the need for action in Wales has never felt more urgent. During the 6th Senedd (2021-26), unpaid carers have grappled with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the deterioration of services across Wales, which are meant to be there to support them. The impact of this upon unpaid carers has been, and continues to be, profound.
This manifesto is a manifesto for unpaid carers in Wales. It is shaped by their voices and led by their lived experience. Its calls are their calls, informed by their issues and priorities and a desire for change.
We started the process by analysing data from our headline annual surveys, State of Caring and Track The Act, which are completed by over 1000 carers each year. Between February and May 2025, we surveyed and engaged around 200 unpaid carers via in-person focus groups and round table sessions, online webinars and our survey “A Manifesto for Carers in Wales”, where carers from across the nation made their voices heard.
We urge all candidates and parties to read the carers’ testimonies and messages to them set out below, – so that we can work together to make life better for carers across Wales in the next Senedd.
We believe carers in Wales deserve better.
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Read the full Manifesto here!
Below are the quick asks for the Senedd Election:
Latest updates
Carers UK marks 60 years of the carers’ movement and women’s leadership at Mary Webster Lecture
Carers UK response: Publication of Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review
Half of Wales’ Unpaid Carers Now Cutting Back on Essentials Amid Deepening Crisis / Hanner Gofalwyr Di-dâl Cymru Nawr yn Torri’n Ôl ar Hanfodion yng Nghanol Argyfwng sy’n Dyfnhau
Carers UK responds to updated Terms of Reference for the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment
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