Every June, something important happens across the UK. Communities, organisations, charities, and individuals come together to recognise one of the most overlooked groups in our society, unpaid carers. It's called Carers Week, and if you've never heard of it, you're not alone. But by the end of this, we think you'll agree it deserves a lot more attention than it gets.
What is Carers Week?
Carers Week is an annual awareness campaign that takes place every June across the UK. It's a week dedicated to shining a light on the millions of people who provide unpaid care to a family member or friend, whether that's a parent, a partner, a child, or a neighbour, who could not manage without their support.
The campaign is run by a coalition of leading charities including Carers UK, Age UK, Oxfam GB, and Carers Trust, among others. Each year, thousands of events, activities, and conversations take place across the country to help carers feel seen, supported, and less alone.
Who is it for?
Carers Week is for everyone, but it's especially for the people who might not even realise they need it.
Many unpaid carers don't identify as carers at all. They see themselves as a son, a daughter, a partner, a friend, someone who is simply doing what needs to be done out of love. The label "carer" can feel formal, even clinical, for something that feels so personal.
But if you are regularly helping someone with daily tasks, getting dressed, managing medication, attending appointments, providing emotional support, you are a carer. And Carers Week exists to make sure you know that you are not alone, that your contribution matters, and that support is available to you.
Read our guide here on how to tell if you’re an unpaid carer and the available support!
Why does it matter?
The scale of unpaid caring in the UK is staggering. There are currently 5.8 million unpaid carers across the country, and that number is projected to rise to 10 million by 2037. Together, they save the state an estimated £184 billion every year, more than the entire NHS budget.
And yet, most carers receive very little in return. Many struggle in silence, unsure of what support exists or whether they even deserve to ask for it. Research consistently shows that unpaid carers are at significantly higher risk of poor mental health, physical illness, financial hardship, and social isolation than the general population.
Carers Week matters because it cuts through that silence. It creates a moment, every year, without fail, where carers are reminded that what they do is extraordinary, that their wellbeing matters, and that there are people and organisations ready to help.
What happens during Carers Week?
Every Carers Week looks a little different, but you can expect to see a range of activity across the country, including:
Local events run by councils, charities, and community groups offering information, advice, and a chance to connect with other carers
Workplace initiatives encouraging employers to support staff with caring responsibilities
Social media campaigns raising awareness and sharing carer stories
Fundraising campaigns helping charities like Carefree reach more carers with the support they need
National media coverage bringing the realities of unpaid caring to a wider audience
Each year also has a theme. Previous themes have focused on making caring visible, building carer-friendly communities, and recognising the diversity of caring experiences across the UK.
How can you support Carers Week?
You don't have to be a carer to get involved. Here are some simple ways to show up this Carers Week:
If you know a carer: Reach out. Ask how they're really doing. Offer practical help — a meal, a few hours of cover, a listening ear. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply acknowledge what they carry.
If you are a carer: This week is for you. Use it to explore what support might be available in your area, connect with other carers who understand your experience, and, if you can, give yourself permission to rest.
If you work with carers: Carers Week is a powerful moment to signpost the people you support towards respite, breaks, and community. Share resources, raise awareness, and make sure the carers in your network know that help exists.
If you want to give: Charities working with unpaid carers rely on public support to keep their services running. A small donation during Carers Week can go a long way, at Carefree, for example, a £5 gift helps fund a real overnight break for a carer who needs rest.
What does Carefree do during Carers Week?
At Carefree, Carers Week is one of the most important moments in our calendar. We partner with hotels across the UK to donate their vacant rooms to unpaid carers, giving them the short breaks they so desperately need. During Carers Week, we run campaigns to raise awareness, reach new carers, and fundraise so we can help even more people access a break.
This Carers Week: double your impact with our match-funded campaign
This year, we're doing something special. For every £5 donated to Carefree during Carers Week, we'll match it, turning your £5 into £10 instantly. It only takes four people giving £5 to fund a carer's first overnight break in years.
Hotels across the UK generously donate their vacant rooms to us every week — over a million rooms sitting empty while carers sit exhausted. Your donation covers the operational cost of turning one of those rooms into a real, restorative break for someone who desperately needs it.
Whether you donate, share our campaign with someone who might, or simply forward this page to a carer in your life, every action counts. Because a break isn't a luxury. For an unpaid carer, it's a lifeline.
[Donate £5 and double your impact →]
Take a Carefree break
If you're an unpaid carer, you may be eligible for two Carefree breaks a year and it's simpler to access than you might think.
We transform vacant hotel rooms into 1-2 night breaks so you and a guest can take some time for yourself, enjoy breakfast and have a real proper good night’s sleep.
It's a simple process.
You’ll need to provide proof of identity and your caring status. Upload documents, or nominate someone as a referee.
Browse break opportunities from anywhere in the UK
Select one, wait for your confirmation, and get ready for your break
To date, Carefree has delivered over 20,000 breaks to more than 50,000 carers signed up to our community and we're just getting started. Every break is a reminder to a carer that they are seen, that they matter, and that rest is not something they have to earn.
The bottom line
Carers Week is one week a year. But the need it highlights doesn't stop when the week ends. The 5.8 million unpaid carers keeping this country running deserve recognition, support, and rest, not just in June, but all year round.
If this is your first Carers Week, we hope it's the start of something. And if you've been a carer for years, quietly carrying more than anyone around you realises, we see you. We celebrate you. And we're here to help.
