Resources

State of Caring (Carers UK, October 2023)

Carers UK carried out an online survey between June and August 2023. A total of 11,667 carers and former carers responded to the survey. This report summarises the responses from the 10,751 people who are currently providing care. As not all respondents completed every question in the survey, a number of the figures given in this report are based upon responses from fewer than 10,751 people.

Of respondents to the survey:

Carers Trust Report 2023

Adult Carer Survey Report 2023: “Unpaid carers are not unsung heroes. We are forgotten, neglected and burnt out"

Findings from a Carers Trust survey of 3,430 unpaid carers from across the UK show 45% don’t get enough support, while 41% have seen their caring hours rocket in the past year.

For the first time, the annual research also highlights how women, those from poorer backgrounds, carers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, LGB+ carers and older unpaid carers experience additional barriers to support.

The Caring Penalty 2023

This Joseph Rowntree Foundation report sheds light on the carer pay penalty, looking at its magnitude, causes, and distribution, as well as its evolution over time. It looks at how existing policies mitigate the penalty, and considers the potential for new policies to go further.

Estimating the pay penalty for individual carers, the report finds that:

Navigating the System (Independent Age)

Independent Age's new report reveals that complexities in the social care system and difficulties accessing advice from local councils are causing added distress to people in need of care.

Their research found that less than half of respondents feel confident arranging social care for themselves or someone they know. This shows how important it is that local authorities get information and advice right.

Independent Age is calling on the Government to provide further support to local authorities to tackle these issues.

An Urgent Call to Action: Carers Trust Report

Carers Trust has written this report for decision-makers on behalf of the unpaid carers who took the time to share their messages with us. These are their voices. And our message is that a solution desperately needs to be found so that unpaid carers get the support they need. Unpaid carers are not asking to live in the lap of luxury or saying they do not want to work – they are having to “choose” whether to eat or not, to turn the heating on or not, leave their jobs, and are compromising their own health and wellbeing.

Heading for crisis: Caught between caring and rising costs

The latest report from Carers UK addressing the impact of the cost of living crisis on unpaid carers: 

Unpaid carers are at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis. Many carers have high caring-related costs that they can’t cut back on without affecting the person they care for. The government must immediately step up and provide unpaid carers with the financial support they need to cope this winter.

Under Pressure: Caring and the Cost of Living Crisis (Carers UK)

The UK is facing a cost of living crisis with inflation at the highest rate for 30 years, driven by soaring energy prices and increases in basics such as food. These rising costs will impact on everyone throughout the UK, and we are particularly concerned about the impact on the already precarious position many unpaid carers face. This will also have a differential effect in parts of the UK. Where there are higher numbers of carers in receipt of carers’ benefits, there will be higher levels of financial stress.