Published 28th May 2021 by

Ahead of Carers Week 2021, Carers UK have launched a new campaign to highlight the urgent need for carers to be better supported to take breaks from their caring responsibilities.

Millions of carers have gone to extraordinary lengths over the past year to look after and support those they care for, with many caring around the clock without any meaningful breaks.

This increased support has often come at great personal cost and left carers exhausted, burnt-out and increasingly worried about the future.

Before the pandemic, carers often struggled to be able to take the breaks they needed and, over the last year, many carers have been unable to access essential support services and have been less able to rely on friends and family, meaning this situation has become even more difficult. Carers have not only taken on more care, but two thirds of carers have not had any breaks at all since the start of the pandemic.

That is why, this Carers Week, Carers UK will be shining a spotlight on the lack of breaks that carers have been able to take in the past year, and the worrying impact this is having on their health and wellbeing, as well as their ability to work and live a meaningful life beyond caring.

To address this situation, they are calling on the government to urgently increase funding for carers’ breaks by an additional £1.2 billion, so all carers providing significant hours of care can take a break.

To raise awareness of our campaign, they are asking people to write to their local MP ahead of Carers Week. They have provided a template letter highlighting the importance of carers breaks.

To go to this letter please go to https://carersuk.e-activist.com/page/81977/action/1?ea.tracking.id=CUK-email

You can also share the post below on your social media to raise awareness of the campaign:

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Support @CarersWeek’s campaign for better breaks for unpaid carers by writing to your MP! Carers have been caring 24/7 during the pandemic without any breaks, leaving many exhausted. The government must increase funding for carers breaks: bit.ly/JoinCarersWeekCampaign

@CarersMatterNfk

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If you are a carer who is in need of a break

Please contact us – there are different ways in which we may be able to help you have the break that you need.

Call us on 0345 241 0954, or email hello@caringtogether.org