Recognise your role as an unpaid carer this Carers Week and avert crisis down the line
This Carers Week (8 – 14 June 2026) The Carers’ Centre is asking residents of Bath and North East Somerset to consider whether they’re an ‘unpaid carer’, or know someone who might be, in order to avoid reaching crisis point down the line.
Most of us will know a carer – someone who is helping to look after someone they love. This might be round-the-clock care or just ad-hoc help, like doing some shopping or taking someone to an appointment. In fact most of us will care, or be cared for, at some time in our lives. But many carers get on with caring quietly, often invisibly, despite needing support themselves. It often takes reaching crisis point for the realisation take place.
Help is at hand to reduce this risk – The Carers’ Centre offers a wide range of free support for carers of all ages and at all stages in their caring journey, including peer support, free wellbeing activities and a Freephone helpline. Most importantly, a community of carers, who understand the highs and the challenges of looking after a friend or family member.
To mark the week – the theme of which is ‘building carer-friendly communities’ – carers from the centre’s advisory group, ‘Carers Voice’ have shared testimonies about when they realised they were carers, and how having a supportive community around them has made a significant difference to their wellbeing. They’ve also created a toolkit of ‘top tips’ for everyone to help carers feel included within a range of contexts and communities.
Read our tips on creating carer friendly communities
Margaret shared: “I became a carer when my husband had a stroke. But I didn’t think I was a carer; I was his wife. A friend who was a registered carer kept telling me about the centre and I only joined to get an emergency card! But I actually found my 'tribe.' If only I had registered earlier, I could have benefitted from the experiences of the other carers and the support and understanding of the staff. This has given me the strength and confidence to carry on.”
Charlotte said: “It took caring for my aunt for me to fully appreciate that I was an unpaid carer, as I had to get in the car to visit her. I had been caring for my mother and for my son, but they lived with me and I thought it was normal to look after an aging parent and a child. If only I had realised sooner, I’d have claimed Carer’s Allowance and spoken to my employer – as I had to stop work – and I’d have done more to find out what support was available to me. I can safely say that without the Carers’ Centre, I would not be where I am today. For the first time in years, I stopped feeling as though I hadn’t been a good-enough carer or that I should have done more. The care and support I have received has enabled me to re-join life.”
Steve said: “I’m a full-time carer for my wife who has several disabilities. It’s a lifetime commitment; I’ve been a carer for 25 years, but I’m not counting. I first registered with The Carers' Centre 20 years ago. I came to activities with my wife until her health worsened.
The last five years for me have been rough. We don’t get any visitors. I see nobody, I speak to nobody, so the carer cafés are good, in that I can talk to someone other than myself and share problems. Everybody is so friendly, we’re all in the same boat, we’re all looking after people. I didn’t think I’d take to it, but it really helps to go.”
Jacqui Orchard, Chief Executive Officer of The Carers’ Centre, said: “Most unpaid carers think of their caring role as part and parcel of another, such as ‘dad’, ‘wife’, ‘daughter’ or ‘friend’. Caring can be so rewarding, but getting support early on your caring journey can make the ongoing challenges much easier to navigate. This is why we’re asking people to consider now, whether they might be a carer, or a know a friend, family member or colleague who might be – recognition is keen to creating carer-friendly communities. We are here to support unpaid carers of all ages, with free services and activities. We’re also keen to share advice and information – we can all play our part in creating a society that is fairer for unpaid carers and prevent them reaching crisis point.”
Cllr Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at B&NES Council, said: “It is our aim to ensure that all carers can access the right support, especially when they need it most. We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Carers’ Centre – their understanding of the carer’s role makes sure that carers in our area have access to the best quality information and guidance to support their wellbeing at all stages of their caring journey. Together, we supported more than 1,500 carers across Bath and North East Somerset in 2025, I am confident that we will help even more carers in the future.”
Residents of BaNES who would like to find out more about the support The Carers’ Centre offers, or tips for creating carer-friendly communities, are invited to visit the website, or drop in to meet members of staff and Carers Voice at The Carers’ Centre, The Woodlands, Lower Bath Road, BA2 9ES, from 12 noon – 1.30pm, on Wednesday, 10 June.
Read our tips on creating carer friendly communities