Carers UK has revealed the findings of its Carers Week 2024 report, which examines unpaid carers’ roles in the UK and the challenges they face.

The research, which Carers UK released after analysing results from YouGov polling, paints a worrying picture for unpaid carers across the UK. It highlights that 62% of current and former unpaid carers are undertaking their duties as they had no choice but to do so, citing a lack of alternative care options.

The report also examined the physical and mental health implications of unpaid care. While caring for someone can be incredibly rewarding, Carers UK found, on the whole, that unpaid carers reported their duties had more negative effects than positive ones. 70% said caring had an impact on their mental health, while 60% said it affected their physical health. 43% said their role negatively impacted their relationships, too.

The strain of unpaid caring was also evident in how it affected people’s finances, which is particularly troubling during the ongoing cost of living crisis. 56% of unpaid carers said their role meant they struggled to find a job or sufficient time to be available for work and 54% said being an unpaid carer had affected their finances and savings.

Clearly, more needs to be done to support unpaid carers with the vital work that they do. Following the findings in the report, Carers UK is calling on all parties to prioritise supporting unpaid carers at the next general election and is calling on the next government to “put carers on the map”. Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “These findings demonstrate how caring can have a profound effect on every aspect of life and wellbeing – mental and physical health, being able to work or affecting their future income, including pensions. That’s why we need to see a future government deliver action across government, in the form of a National Carers Strategy. With an ageing population, this is becoming ever more important.”

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