Across the UK, 5.7 million people are carers, supporting a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill.
Yet carers are experiencing even greater challenges. Since the coronavirus pandemic, we estimate that 4.5 million more people have taken on caring responsibilities.
We share our insights on caring with local authorities, employers and other organisations, making the most of technology to help solve the problems that carers face.
Better services for carers
Carers rely on good quality services to help manage care alongside everything else.
We work with service providers to help them provide the support carers urgently need.
Better employers for carers
Staying in work is a major challenge for the 3 million working carers – every day, 600 people on average are leaving their jobs to provide unpaid care.
With over 215 members covering 3.5million employees, our Employers for Carers membership forum helps employers improve their understanding of carers and retain the carers in their workforce.
Better technology for carers
By listening to what carers need, we’re using our expertise to develop useful products that can help improve carers’ lives.
Our mobile and online app, Jointly, has been designed to make life a little easier for people who share care. And our MyBackUp tool helps carers develop a contingency plan for greater peace of mind.
Latest updates
Carers UK welcomes the opportunity to engage with the government's 10 Year Workforce Plan
Carers UK responds to IPPR paper 'Who Will Care? How Can We Meet The Scale of the Care Challenge?'
Carers UK responds to Guardian article reporting that the Government is considering compensation for carers hit by the Carer’s Allowance scandal
Carers UK's response to the 2024 NHS Adult Inpatient survey
Got a question about caring?
Every day we hear from people who need help with looking after a friend or family member
Become a member for free
Joining Carers UK is free and takes just a few minutes.