• Weekly online physical activity sessions throughout April  
• Individuals and organisations encouraged to participate in mass walking event  
• The month will culminate in an online Healthathon on Friday 26th April - an afternoon of free activities and wellbeing sessions for unpaid carers 

TODAY (01 April 2024), the national charity Carers UK launches a month-long campaign raising awareness of the importance and benefits of exercise for carers.  

Carers Active April 2024, aims to encourage unpaid carers looking after a family member or friend who is elderly, disabled or seriously ill to get involved in physical activity.  

63% of carers say that their caring role reduces the amount of exercise they’re able to do, and only 16% regularly use community sport and leisure facilities, according to new figures released for the campaign by Carers UK.  

Half of carers (51%) surveyed said they had been less active in the last six months, and only 14% had increased their physical activity levels, due to barriers such as a lack of time, being unable to leave the person they care for, and the financial cost of accessing activities.  

Through Carers Active April, carers will be supported and encouraged to take part in free, accessible activities organised by Carers UK, and to consider how they can build exercise into their weekly routines in a way that suits individual needs and activity levels.  

Unpaid carers who sign up to Carers Active April will receive helpful resources, links, and tips during the month, as well as invitations to free weekly online physical activity sessions, and information about events being run by organisations in their local area.  

Groups supporting carers are also encouraged to take part, joining in with a mass walking event, ‘We Move More’ on 11th April, and sharing details of this year’s Healthathon on Friday 26th April – an afternoon of free events and activities for carers. Unpaid carers will also be able track their activities over Carers Active April via digital platform Enthuse.   

To find out more, unpaid carers can sign up to Carers Active April by visiting, https://www.cognitoforms.com/CarersUK1/CarersActiveApril2024Signup 

Helen Walker, Chief Executive, Carers UK, said: 

“We know that caring can have a huge impact on peoples’ ability to find the time they need to look after their own health and wellbeing. Many carers are exhausted from caring. It can be difficult to find the motivation needed to get active, but our findings show that there are clear benefits for those able to engage in physical activity.  

“Seven in 10 unpaid carers (73%) said that being physical active makes them feel good about themselves. While over two thirds (67%) said that doing a range of physical activities helps them to feel more connected to other people.  

“We want to inspire people to exercise in a way which suits them. We encourage all unpaid carers to get involved in activities during the month and to find out more on the Carers Active April page of the Carers UK website.”  

This is the third annual Carers Active April since the project was launched in 2022 and is supported by Sport England. 

Hannah McDonald, National Partnerships Manager at Sport England, said: 

“Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy aims to make sure that everyone, regardless of their background, bank balance, gender or where they live, has the opportunity to get active. We know, however, that there are often barriers that prevent people from engaging in sport and physical activity, and we are focused on tackling them in all we do. 

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

- ENDS -