Rose Mabiza

27-02-2024

Carers Week 2025

Image by halfpoint via Envato Elements

Caring about equality: Shining a light on the unseen struggles of unpaid carers

From Monday, 9 June to Sunday, 15 June 2025, the UK will mark Carers Week, a vital national campaign to raise awareness of unpaid carers and the invaluable role they play in supporting others. This year’s theme, “Caring About Equality”, shines a powerful light on the systemic inequalities faced by carers and calls for meaningful change across communities, workplaces, and public services.

What is Carers Week?

Carers Week is an annual campaign led by Carers UK, in collaboration with organisations such as Age UK, Carers Trust, Rethink Mental Illness, and The ME Association, among others. Sponsors, including TSB Bank, Regina UK, and Centrica, support it.

The week aims to:

• Recognise and celebrate the contributions of the UK’s 5.7 million unpaid carers.
• Raise public awareness about the challenges they face.
• Encourage carers to identify their roles and seek the support they deserve.

Carers Week also invites the wider public to pledge, showing solidarity with carers through acts of support, advocacy, and understanding.

Theme for 2025 - Caring About Equality

The 2025 theme, “Caring About Equality”, urges us to acknowledge and address the deep-rooted inequalities faced by unpaid carers. These individuals, who dedicate their time and energy to caring for family or friends with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or age-related conditions, often experience:

• Financial hardship due to reduced earning capacity or employment loss.
• Social isolation and loneliness, due to caring responsibilities, can limit social interaction.
• Worsening mental and physical health, driven by stress, exhaustion, and lack of respite.
• Barriers to education and career progression, especially among young adults and female carers.

This year’s theme serves as a powerful reminder: caring should never come at the cost of a carer’s health, financial security, or personal growth. Equality must be at the heart of how we support carers at home, in the workplace, and through public policy.

The hidden impact of caring

Many carers do not even identify themselves as such, seeing their role as part of family duty. As a result, they may not seek the help or recognition they need. Carers Week 2025 aims to:

• Help individuals recognise when they are acting as carers
• Signpost them to support networks, resources, and financial aid
• Encourage society to view caring as a shared responsibility.

Recognising unpaid carers is not just a matter of empathy - it is a matter of social justice. They must not be left behind in conversations about equality and access.

How to get involved in Carers Week 2025

Everyone can take part in Carers Week and help promote carer equality:

• Share awareness - Use your social media platforms to spread messages using the hashtags #CarersWeek2025 and #CaringAboutEquality.
• Host or attend an event - Local events, online seminars, and workplace workshops offer valuable ways to engage.
• Make a pledge - Show your commitment to supporting unpaid carers by pledging your time, voice, or resources.
• Support a carer you know - Check in, listen, and offer practical support where possible.
• Review your workplace policies - Ensure your organisation is inclusive of carers’ needs and offers flexible, supportive solutions.

Conclusion

As we mark Carers Week 2025, we stand behind this year’s important message: ‘’Caring About Equality.’’ Unpaid carers play a vital role in holding families and communities together, often at great personal cost. Yet, too many face financial hardship, social isolation, and limited access to opportunities.

These challenges are not inevitable; they reflect a lack of recognition and support. It’s time to take meaningful action to ensure carers are treated fairly, supported fully, and included in conversations about equality and wellbeing.

Supporting carers at work

At The Mandatory Training Group, we are committed to promoting equality, well-being, and inclusion in the workplace. Through our innovative platform, like ComplyPlus™, we empower organisations to recognise and support unpaid carers, offering flexible working solutions, training, and mental health support.

We believe that caring should never come at the cost of opportunity. This Carers Week, let’s work together to close the gaps and build a more equitable society for everyone.

Last updated on 06-06-2025