Carers Week is an annual event in the UK that takes place on the second Monday in June. Carers Week is an opportunity to spotlight those within the care community who go above and beyond. Whether they are paid or unpaid carers, administrative staff, cleaners, or volunteers, Carers Week is an excellent time for everyone to express their gratitude and appreciation for those who provide care.
The History of Carers Week
When charitable organisations such as Carers UK emerged in 1965, the country’s conversation about and advocacy for carers’ rights and awareness shifted. With time, annual campaigns, such as Carers Week, were established to recognise and celebrate carers.
The Origins
Carers Week has a long and exciting history which can be traced back to the 1980s when the campaign’s concept campaign began to take shape.
Carers Week Became a National Campaign in 2000
Back in the early 2000s, Carers Week became a recognised and coordinated national campaign supported by many charities, most notably Carers UK and Age UK.
As a newly founded and recognised national campaign, Carers Week began creating themes to focus attention on specific areas and aspects of caregiving. Over the years, the campaign has focused on and advocated for the lives of young carers, unpaid carers, carers during the pandemic, and the struggles carers face in day-to-day life.
Key Milestones of the Carers Week Campaign
The goal of any national campaign is to make a difference and evoke change, whether that be on a personal level, policy level, or governmental level. The Carers Week campaign has had some significant successes, including;
Awareness Growth
The campaign has done an excellent job of providing awareness, resulting in more charities, businesses, schools, and local governments participating and doing more for the community.
Policy
The Carers Week campaign has improved policy, such as the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995, the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, and the Care Act 2014, which formalised carers’ rights to support and assessment.
Resources
Carers Week has been instrumental in connecting carers with practical support, such as mental health resources, financial advice, respite care options, and much more.
Carers Week Theme 2025
The theme for Carers Week 2025 has yet to be announced, but you can visit CarersWeek.org for updates. Typically, the theme for this annual event is revealed closer to the date. For example, the theme for 2024 was “Putting Carers on the Map,” which emphasised the invaluable and often overlooked contributions of carers across the UK, giving them a voice and platform.
In 2024, CarersWeek.org launched a campaign with a twist. The campaign focused on seven different areas of care, one for each day, highlighting the vastness of the care community.
- Monday: Launching our latest Carers Week research
- Tuesday: Health and social care
- Wednesday: Work and employment
- Thursday: Younger carers
- Friday: Older carers
- Saturday: Mental health and wellbeing
- Sunday: Reflections on Carers Week
How We Support Carers: Discounts That Make a Difference
We know that caring for another person can result in unexpected costs—medication, travel expenses, monthly bills, the list, sadly, goes on. For many carers, both paid and unpaid, finances can be a struggle, which is why at Discounts for Carers, we are proud to connect our members to deals and discounts that help stretch their money the extra mile.
Our mission is simple: “Give at work? Win at life!” because we know that caring for others—whether you’re doing it for a career or out of kindness—is hard work. That’s why we offer deals and discounts that feel like little victories in your day. So go on, celebrate those wins with a quiet punch in the air (but secretly, because we’re British)!Â
