Campaigning is in the lifeblood of Carers UK. From our very beginnings we have been at the forefront of the carers’ movement, driven by an unswerving commitment to bring about equality for unpaid carers.
Carers UK began at a time when carers were forced to contend with the pressures of caring without any formal rights or recognition. Shaped and guided by carers’ experiences, our campaigns have increased awareness of unpaid carers and have led to crucial advancements in carers’ rights and support.
Fighting for carers' rights for 60 years
Since forming in 1965, Carers UK has played an instrumental role in securing new rights and entitlements for carers. Every decade of our history has seen vital breakthroughs, such as:
- The 1967 Dependent Relative Tax Allowance which marked the first legal recognition of carers' contributions and set a precedent for future legislation to support carers' unique financial challenges.
- The introduction of the 1976 Invalid Care Allowance (now Carer’s Allowance), the first benefit to recognise the financial sacrifices of unpaid carers.
- The 1986 Audit Commission report’s recognition, for the first time, of carers as the main providers of community care and of the need for carers to have support in their own right.
- The 1995 Carers (Recognition and Services) Act, which granted parent carers and young carers legal recognition, rights to assessments and support services for the first time.
- The 2010 Equality Act, which positively impacted carers by prohibiting discrimination against individuals based on their association with someone who has a disability, age, or other protected characteristic.
- The 2023 Carer’s Leave Act granting carers the legal right to unpaid leave for caregiving, recognising the need for work-life balance.
We have influenced landmark legislation and advocated for change across the UK for instance: the 2002 Carers and Direct Payment Act in Northern Ireland, the 2006 Carers Act in Scotland, and the 2014 Care Act in England and the 2014 Social Services and Well-being Act in Wales
Our campaigns have helped to secure a suite of essential rights and entitlements for carers covering carer’s assessments, benefits, hospital discharge support, involvement in decision making, eligibility for annual flu vaccinations, workplace rights, protection from discrimination and more.
We are passionate about ensuring policy advances lead to meaningful change on the ground. November 2025 will mark a quarter of century of Carers Rights Day, which seeks to ensure more carers understand their rights. Each year, action takes place across the UK to raise awareness with carers, decision-makers, employers and professionals in the education, health, social care and voluntary sectors.
Campaigning in 2025
Our long history of campaigning has shown that change is possible, but we will not stop until carers have all the rights and support they need.
In 2025 we continue to our call for greater equality, an end to carer poverty, better workplace rights for carers, carers to being at the heart of NHS plans, social care reform, and stronger workplace rights.
