Carers Week blog

5-11 June marks Carers Week. Each year, this is an opportunity to raise awareness of caring and for organisations and individuals to show support for unpaid carers, share the challenges they face and what needs to be done to improve their daily lives. This year, the theme for Carers Week is ‘recognising and supporting carers in the community’.  

What is an unpaid carer? 

An unpaid carer is someone who provides help and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who couldn’t manage without their help. This could be due to illness, disability, mental health problems or substance misuse.  

For some, caring has always been a part of life. For many, a caring role evolves over time. Others are thrown into a caring role. Some people live with the person they care for, some don’t. Some unpaid carers care for more than one person. Caring for someone can take up a few hours a week, or an unpaid carer may be caring for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   

Many unpaid carers do not see themselves as carers. But if you provide help and support such as shopping, managing medication, cooking, cleaning, emotional support or personal care, such as helping someone get dressed – you are an unpaid carer. 

3 in 5 of us will provide unpaid care at some point in our lives. Carers Leeds believes all care counts.

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The impact of caring 

To be able to recognise and support carers in our communities, we must tell the real story of unpaid care, so that unpaid carers can self-identity and those living and working in communities can identify them too.  

Carers Leeds recently carried out a survey of unpaid adult and parent carers in our city. 523 unpaid carers responded. The survey asked them what they were most concerned about, their experiences as an unpaid carer and what matters most to them.  

Being an unpaid carer can be incredibly rewarding but it can also be hugely challenging. The survey report tells a story of unpaid carers who are deeply concerned about their own health and wellbeing. Many are missing out on doing things for themselves, such as social activities or taking a break, because of their caring role. Too many unpaid carers in our city often or always feel lonely. A shocking number of unpaid carers said they are feeling exhausted, depressed, and overwhelmed all or most of the time.    

This is compounded by serious worries about money and the cost of living. Unpaid carers in Leeds said that they are struggling to make ends meet and are cutting back on essentials such as food and heating. They are worried about the future. Some may not be accessing the welfare benefits they may be entitled to and many who aren’t in work, would like to be.  

Read the report opposite or view it here.

A hidden issue or a fictitious story  

So much of unpaid care is hidden because it happens within families, friendship groups and in people’s homes. Those who have yet to experience unpaid care, whether as a care giver or a care recipient, often fail to see or understand the true story of what it means to be an unpaid carer.  

Where unpaid care is visible, a fictitious story is told of angels or superheroes, of people who are different from the rest of us. People who are special in some way, and who are doing something that ‘we couldn’t do.’ Compare this to the findings from Carers Leeds survey or statistics on the prevalence of unpaid care, and you will quickly see that this isn’t the story we should tell ourselves and others. 

We are all likely to give or receive unpaid care in our lives, many people will experience both. This is something that all communities will face. I urge you, this Carers Week, please notice the unpaid carers in your family and social networks, your community, or your workplace. Recognise what they really do (not what you think they do) and the impact it has on their health and wellbeing. Reach out to offer support. Let them know they are valued and if you think it could help, point them in the direction of Carers Leeds. 

Claire Turner,

Chief Executive of Carers Leeds