Welcome to the Caring Economy.

Collectively we have the power to shape the future of social care.

Illustration of a carere taking a break reading a book

Welcome to the Caring Economy.

Collectively we have the power to shape the future of social care.

Illustration of a carere taking a break reading a book

Welcome to the Caring Economy.

Collectively we have the power to shape the future of social care.

Illustration of a carere taking a break reading a book

Welcome to the Caring Economy.

Collectively we have the power to shape the future of social care.

Illustration of a carere taking a break reading a book

This is your story. Or has been. Or will be. 

This is your story. Or has been. Or will be. 

This is your story. Or has been. Or will be. 

Diagram depicting a theory of change related to carers and sustainable care systems. At the centre is the Carefree logo and five surrounding circles. The circles contain the following information: 'Excess capacity: 1 million unsold hotel rooms in UK every week'; 'Unmet need: 68% of unpaid carers can't get a break when they need one'; 'Greater wellbeing: 95% of carers report improved wellbeing'; 'Sustainable care system: Durable family care arrangements reduce pressure on NHS and social care'; 'Greater resilience: 88% of carers report improved coping ability.
Diagram depicting a theory of change related to carers and sustainable care systems. At the centre is the Carefree logo and five surrounding circles. The circles contain the following information: 'Excess capacity: 1 million unsold hotel rooms in UK every week'; 'Unmet need: 68% of unpaid carers can't get a break when they need one'; 'Greater wellbeing: 95% of carers report improved wellbeing'; 'Sustainable care system: Durable family care arrangements reduce pressure on NHS and social care'; 'Greater resilience: 88% of carers report improved coping ability.
Diagram depicting a theory of change related to carers and sustainable care systems. At the centre is the Carefree logo and five surrounding circles. The circles contain the following information: 'Excess capacity: 1 million unsold hotel rooms in UK every week'; 'Unmet need: 68% of unpaid carers can't get a break when they need one'; 'Greater wellbeing: 95% of carers report improved wellbeing'; 'Sustainable care system: Durable family care arrangements reduce pressure on NHS and social care'; 'Greater resilience: 88% of carers report improved coping ability.
Diagram depicting a theory of change related to carers and sustainable care systems. At the centre is the Carefree logo and five surrounding circles. The circles contain the following information: 'Excess capacity: 1 million unsold hotel rooms in UK every week'; 'Unmet need: 68% of unpaid carers can't get a break when they need one'; 'Greater wellbeing: 95% of carers report improved wellbeing'; 'Sustainable care system: Durable family care arrangements reduce pressure on NHS and social care'; 'Greater resilience: 88% of carers report improved coping ability.

By leveraging the hotel industry’s excess capacity we are enabling thousands of carers nationwide to access vital respite, without adding any additional cost to the public purse. It’s a future-facing and mutually beneficial model of regeneration that sees care not as a burden on the state but as an integral part of our lives and a fundamental cog in the wheel of our economy.

80% of home care in the UK is provided by full-time unpaid carers who sacrifice their own health and wellbeing to look after their loved ones. The changes that we make now will shape the social care landscape for years to come. We believe getting carers a break when they need it, is the first step to creating a more sustainable social care future, that shares, cares and enables us all to thrive. 

Our impact

Enabling carers to take a break improves their wellbeing, increases their sense of social connectedness and their ability to cope with their caring responsibilities. It also boosts the quality of care they are able to provide their cared-for person and reduces pressure on public finances by preventing carer breakdown.

10,000

Breaks delivered

£2.75m

Donated hotel stays

88%

Couldn´t have taken a break without us

Our impact

Enabling carers to take a break improves their wellbeing, increases their sense of social connectedness and their ability to cope with their caring responsibilities. It also boosts the quality of care they are able to provide their cared-for person and reduces pressure on public finances by preventing carer breakdown.

10,000

Breaks delivered

£2.75m

Donated hotel stays

88%

Couldn´t have taken a break without us

Our impact

Enabling carers to take a break improves their wellbeing, increases their sense of social connectedness and their ability to cope with their caring responsibilities. It also boosts the quality of care they are able to provide their cared-for person and reduces pressure on public finances by preventing carer breakdown.

10,000

Breaks delivered

£2.75m

Donated hotel stays

88%

Couldn´t have taken a break without us

Our impact

Enabling carers to take a break improves their wellbeing, increases their sense of social connectedness and their ability to cope with their caring responsibilities. It also boosts the quality of care they are able to provide their cared-for person and reduces pressure on public finances by preventing carer breakdown.

10,000

Breaks delivered

£2.75m

Donated hotel stays

88%

Couldn´t have taken a break without us

OUR Awards

Business charity awards carefree
Business charity awards carefree
Business charity awards carefree
Skift Award Carefree
Skift Award Carefree
Skift Award Carefree
Travolution awards carefree
Travolution awards carefree
Travolution awards carefree
Thirdsector Awards carefree
Thirdsector Awards carefree
Thirdsector Awards carefree

Who we are

Carefree was established by Charlie and James Ricketts following their family's experience of caring for both their sisters through breast cancer. It is led by a unique team combining new economic thinking, tech innovation and lived experience to deliver this groundbreaking support to carers.

THE CAREFREE TEAM

OUR TRUSTEES

OUR FUNDERS

  • City Bridge Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • The Clothworkers´Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • DÓyly Carte Charitable Trust funding Carefree charity
  • The Eveson Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Fredericks Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Pears Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Postcode Innovation Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Rayne Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • The Sobell Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Social Investment Business funder of Carefree charity
  • Swire Charitable Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust funder of Carefree charity

OUR FUNDERS

  • City Bridge Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • The Clothworkers´Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • DÓyly Carte Charitable Trust funding Carefree charity
  • The Eveson Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Fredericks Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Pears Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Postcode Innovation Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Rayne Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • The Sobell Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Social Investment Business funder of Carefree charity
  • Swire Charitable Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust funder of Carefree charity

OUR FUNDERS

  • City Bridge Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • The Clothworkers´Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • DÓyly Carte Charitable Trust funding Carefree charity
  • The Eveson Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Fredericks Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Pears Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Postcode Innovation Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Rayne Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • The Sobell Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Social Investment Business funder of Carefree charity
  • Swire Charitable Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust funder of Carefree charity

OUR FUNDERS

  • City Bridge Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • The Clothworkers´Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • DÓyly Carte Charitable Trust funding Carefree charity
  • The Eveson Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Fredericks Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Pears Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Postcode Innovation Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Rayne Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • The Sobell Foundation funder of Carefree charity
  • Social Investment Business funder of Carefree charity
  • Swire Charitable Trust funder of Carefree charity
  • Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust funder of Carefree charity

Scale potential

With 1 million empty hotel rooms in the UK every week, the potential number of short breaks per annum exceeds 20 million. Even a fraction of that figure represents an intervention of truly meaningful scale. Throughout the world millions of carers face identical challenges, so our model of social intervention is specifically designed to be replicated internationally.

Bar chart showing the number of full-time unpaid carers in the UK, US, and EU. The UK has 4 million unpaid carers, represented by a short bar. The US has 20 million unpaid carers, represented by a medium-length bar. The EU has 27 million unpaid carers, represented by the longest bar. The chart highlights the comparative number of unpaid carers across these regions.
Bar chart showing the number of full-time unpaid carers in the UK, US, and EU. The UK has 4 million unpaid carers, represented by a short bar. The US has 20 million unpaid carers, represented by a medium-length bar. The EU has 27 million unpaid carers, represented by the longest bar. The chart highlights the comparative number of unpaid carers across these regions.
Bar chart showing the number of full-time unpaid carers in the UK, US, and EU. The UK has 4 million unpaid carers, represented by a short bar. The US has 20 million unpaid carers, represented by a medium-length bar. The EU has 27 million unpaid carers, represented by the longest bar. The chart highlights the comparative number of unpaid carers across these regions.
Bar chart showing the number of full-time unpaid carers in the UK, US, and EU. The UK has 4 million unpaid carers, represented by a short bar. The US has 20 million unpaid carers, represented by a medium-length bar. The EU has 27 million unpaid carers, represented by the longest bar. The chart highlights the comparative number of unpaid carers across these regions.

Interested in partnering with us?

Book a call with Nathan, our Community Manager, to learn more.

Nathan, community manager at Carefree

Interested in partnering with us?

Book a call with Nathan, our Community Manager, to learn more.

Nathan, community manager at Carefree

Interested in partnering with us?

Book a call with Nathan, our Community Manager, to learn more.

Nathan, community manager at Carefree

Interested in partnering with us?

Book a call with Nathan, our Community Manager, to learn more.

Nathan, community manager at Carefree

Give Rooms

Become a Carefree Breakmaker

Refer Carers

Join our network of Community Partners

Donate

Support our mission to get every carer a break

Give Rooms

Become a Carefree Breakmaker

Refer Carers

Join our network of Community Partners

Donate

Support our mission to get every carer a break

Give Rooms

Become a Carefree Breakmaker

Refer Carers

Join our network of Community Partners

Donate

Support our mission to get every carer a break

Give Rooms

Become a Carefree Breakmaker

Refer Carers

Join our network of Community Partners

Donate

Support our mission to get every carer a break