Carer's Week 2024

Published: Monday, 10 June 2024

*Shared in partnership with Leicester City Council.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

The theme for Carers Week 2024 is ‘Putting carers on the map’. 

Unpaid Carers

Carers UK states that the most recent Census in 2021 puts the estimated number of unpaid carers at 5.7 million across the UK. However, their research estimates the number of unpaid carers could be as high as 10.6 million.

Working Carers

One in seven people in the workplace in the UK are juggling work and care. The Carer’s Leave Act came into force on 6^th April 2024. This is a statutory right for carers to take 5 days of unpaid leave each year to fulfil their caring responsibilities.

Young Carers

If a child or young person is aged 18 years or under and looks after someone and provides regular care to support someone like a member of their family, they are a young carer. It’s important for young carers to get the right support and right information and advice when they need it.

Local Support for Carers

The Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland (LLR) Carers Strategy 2022-25 is in place to support carers across LLR.

For information and advice, including about completing carer’s assessments and access to local support groups, individuals can visit the following webpages, depending on where they live:

• Leicestershire (click here for young carers)
• Leicester City (click here for young carers)
• Rutland (click here for young carers)

National Support for Carers

Useful information for carers about looking after their health and wellbeing can be found on the Carers UK and Carers Trust websites.