Carers Rights Day 2025

Carers Rights Day is a national awareness campaign led by Carers UK to raise awareness and highlight the rights of the 5.8 million unpaid carers across the UK.

It gives us the chance to recognise and support those who care for a loved one, friend or family member who may be older, disabled or seriously ill and unable to care for themselves – often whilst juggling their own work/life balance.

This year, the theme is ‘Know your rights, use your rights.’

Every day, 12,000 people become unpaid carers – many of whom don’t see themselves as carers and often unaware of their legal rights and what they’re entitled to in terms of support and benefits.

Carers should not have to miss out on support designed to reduce some of the pressures caring can bring. Whether they care 24/7 or juggle care with work and family life, are new to caring or have been for many years, and wherever they live in the UK – all carers deserve to understand their rights and be supported to use them if they wish.

Know your rights, use your rights 

As a carer, knowing your rights empowers you with information about what you’re entitled to. This helps you feel confident asking for what you need, as well as challenging things when your rights are not being met – whether that be in the workplace or education, in accessing health or social care, or when interacting with other professionals or at home.

Carers UK are working to achieve the following goals:

• Making caring the 10th protected characteristic under the Equality Act.
• Greater recognition and support to help people identify as a carer.
• Clear rights not to be discriminated against because of their caring responsibilities.
• A fairer social security system which supports carers to live a life free from poverty.
• Systematic recognition, involvement, and support from the NHS.
• Access to good quality and affordable social care, including the ability to take a break from caring.
• Better workplace support, including a right to paid time off to care for a family member or friend.

For more information, help and resources, visit Carersuk.org