Carers Week 2026: Building Carer Friendly Communities

Carers Week 2026, running from 8–14th June, launches with a powerful and timely theme: Building Carer Friendly Communities. Led by Carers UK and supported by partner charities, this year’s campaign calls for greater recognition, visibility and practical support for the UK’s 5.8 million unpaid carers.

Why Carer Friendly Communities Matter

Unpaid carers play a vital role in society supporting family members, friends or neighbours who are older, ill or disabled. Their contribution is enormous, saving the UK economy an estimated £184 billion each year, equivalent to the cost of running a second NHS. Yet many carers struggle without the support they need. More than 57% report feeling overwhelmed “often” or “always.”

A carer friendly community is one that recognises carers, listens to their experiences, and takes practical steps to ensure they are not left to cope alone. These communities can exist anywhere in workplaces, GP practices, hospitals, pharmacies, schools, universities, businesses, faith groups and online spaces.

What Does a Carer Friendly Community Look Like?

Carer friendly communities:

• Identify carers early, ensuring they can access support before reaching crisis point
• Listen and respond to carers lived experiences
• Provide flexibility in workplaces, education and public services
• Create inclusive environments where carers feel valued and understood
• Promote wellbeing, financial security and opportunities for carers of all ages

Carers Week 2026 will highlight examples of what is already working well and where change is urgently needed.

A Collective Effort

Carers UK is joined by supporting charities including Age UK, Carers Trust, MND Association, Rethink Mental Illness, The ME Association and The Lewy Body Society. Together, they are inviting communities across the UK to share good practice and raise awareness of the importance of building carer friendly environments.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, emphasises that Carers Week 2026 is an opportunity for all of us to play a positive part in supporting carers helping them maintain their health, wellbeing, relationships and financial stability. She stresses that carers face challenges “every step of the way,” and that stronger, more supportive communities can significantly improve their quality of life.

The Role of Workplaces

Workplaces are a crucial part of carer friendly communities. With millions of carers balancing employment and caring responsibilities, flexible working, understanding managers and supportive policies can make a transformative difference. Carers Week encourages employers to reflect on how they can better support carers within their teams.

How You Can Get Involved

Everyone has a role to play in building carer friendly communities. You can:

• Raise awareness of unpaid carers in your community
• Share resources and information from Carers Week
• Advocate for flexible policies in your workplace or organisation
• Support local groups that help carers
• Listen to carers’ stories and amplify their voices

Carers Week 2026 is a reminder that caring touches every part of society and that together, we can create communities where carers feel recognised, supported and valued.

References:

Carers Week 2026 launches theme ‘Building Carer Friendly Communities’ | Carers UK