Summary

Carer’s Week 2026 is being held from Monday 8th June until Sunday 14th and is focusing on “Building Carer Friendly Communities”. Unpaid carers prop up the UK’s health and social care sectors yet receive very little support, the majority feel overwhelmed and need more help. During Carer’s Week it is important to do what you can to recognise the importance of carers, support the work they do, and signpost where they can receive extra help.

What’s Discussed in This Article?

• Why Do We Need Carer’s Week?
• What is Carer’s Week?
• What is a Carer Friendly Community?
• What Can You Do for Carer’s Week?
• What are the Daily Themes for Carer’s Week 2026?

Why Do We Need Carer’s Week?

Carers are anyone who supports or looks after another individual, be that a family member, friend, or neighbour. Caring can look like providing help around the house, supporting the individual live their daily life (eating, drinking, washing), emotional care through visits, financial support, and much more. An individual could be receiving care for many reasons, including but not limited to mental or physical illness, a disability, dementia, addiction, or simply getting older.

Unpaid carers provide care for an individual without receiving payment to do so, giving their time, energy, and kindness freely to those in need. In contrast to their lack of pay, unpaid carers save the UK economy an estimated £184 billion every year. Unpaid carers are sometimes compared to a second NHS when considering their value in the social and health care sectors, particularly in the face of an increasingly elderly population. However, many carers are not receiving the support or recognition of their work that they need. Recent research has suggested that over half (57%) of UK carers ‘often’ or ‘always’ feel overwhelmed.

It is crucial to care for those who support our most vulnerable. This is especially true in the case of those who provide unpaid care, as they can be the most vulnerable to social isolation, lost income, mental and physical health decline, chronic stress, and burnout.

What is Carer’s Week?

Carer’s Week is an annual weeklong campaign that aims to raise awareness about unpaid care, create clearer avenues for accessing support as an unpaid carer, and to give back to those who care for our most vulnerable. 2026’s theme for Carer’s Week is “Building Carer Friendly Communities”. From Monday 8th June to Sunday 14th June, individuals, businesses, and groups across the UK are encouraged to do what they can to make their communities friendlier for carers.

What is a Carer Friendly Community?

Carer friendly communities are spaces, places, or organisations that value care work and carers. These communities will not only encourage carers to tell their story and feel connected but also offer practical support to ensure no carer ever has to do it alone. 

What Can You Do for Carer’s Week?

Supporting carers in your community is all about doing what you can, when and where you can! Here are just a few examples:

• Advice or information drop-in sessions that signpost where carers can receive support in your local community, like accessing a Carer’s Assessment
• Connecting carer’s events, for building better networks between unpaid carers in local communities
• Fun events like a quiz, book club, karaoke session, arts and crafts sessions
• Carer coffee mornings or afternoon teas
• Check up on carers you know in your personal and professional life
• Recognise how crucial carers are within your community
• Encourage carers to care for themselves! Share tips on keeping healthy while caring
• View more on the Carer’s Week website via pages Tips for Running Activities & Supporting Carers

Carer’s Week 2026 Daily Themes

This carer’s week calls for individuals, businesses, and everyone in between to help build carer friendly communities by focusing on a different type of community each day!

• Monday – Health
• Tuesday – Social care
• Wednesday – Work
• Thursday – Education
• Friday – Business and services
• Saturday – Community
• Sunday – Reflections on Carers Week