Carers UK launch two reports to mark Carers Rights Day 2024

Carers UK, fellow members of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, have released two reports as part of Carers Rights Day 2024.

The first, Valuing Carers 2021/22, published in partnership with the Centre for Care, finds that unpaid carers are now providing care worth a staggering £184 billion a year. This huge increase – up £64.9 billion since 2011 – is because families are providing more care than ever before. It’s still the equivalent support to the NHS.

The second, State of Caring 2024: The impact of caring on employment, supported by TSB Bank, examines people’s experiences of juggling work and care since the introduction of the Carer’s Leave Act in April 2024, using findings from their State of Caring Survey 2024. This reveals that more than half (56%) of working carers cannot afford to take their entitlement to unpaid Carer’s Leave, and that 78% say they need a statutory right to paid Carer’s Leave to better help them to juggle work and care.

Knowing your rights as an unpaid carer can help you get the support you need. Healthcare staff are often in a position to signpost unpaid carers to support. You can find some resources that can help here.

You can find out more about Carers Rights Day and how to get involved here. You can also join the conversation on social media using #CarersRightsDay, #NHSThinkCarer to share the importance of Carers Rights Day and connect with others who are advocating for carers’ rights.