Have Your Say: 2025 Unpaid Carers Survey

After the success of last year’s survey, Carers Leeds is delighted to be launching our 2025 annual unpaid carers survey.

Through this survey we want to understand the experiences of carers aged 16+ and the things that matter most to them. The survey asks about health and wellbeing, money and work, social life and time for you, and access to services. We will use the findings to improve what we do at Carers Leeds and to help make sure others act to improve the lives of unpaid carers in our city.

Last year, 536 unpaid carers took part in our annual survey, sharing their key concerns, personal experiences, and what matters most to them. Their responses painted a clear and at times stark picture of unpaid caring in Leeds: too many carers feel invisible, undervalued and unsupported—often at a cost to their own health, wellbeing, financial stability and relationships.

Some key findings from last year include:

The top three concerns for unpaid carers were:
1. My own health and wellbeing (60%)
2. The changing needs of the person I care for (48%)
3. Money and the cost of living (30%)
62% said caring negatively affected their physical health, and 72% said it negatively affected their mental health.
38% told us they often or always feel lonely.
Among carers in work, 45% said that having an understanding employer or line manager would help them juggle work and care.

We know there are at least 61,500 unpaid carers in Leeds, and we would like the 2025 survey to reach as many as possible. We would really appreciate your support in promoting the survey to your staff, volunteers, networks, and any carers you know.

The survey ends on Friday 30th January 2026, and carers can complete it online using the link below. Paper copies are available from Carers Leeds, and we can also help carers complete the survey over the phone or face-to-face.

Carers can contact us at admin@carersleeds.org.uk or 0113 246 8338, or pop into our Mabgate office.