Carers Rights Day 2025: Know Your Rights, Use Your Rights

Today marks Carers Rights Day 2025, a key moment to recognise and support the UK’s estimated 5.8 million unpaid carers. This year’s theme, ‘Know your rights, use your rights’, shines a spotlight on empowering carers to understand the support they’re entitled to and feel confident in using it.

Every single day, around 12,000 people in the UK become unpaid carers for a loved one. Whether it’s a partner, parent, child, friend or neighbour, many don’t see themselves as carers and are often unaware of the legal rights, benefits and services designed to help them. Yet these individuals form the backbone of our communities, quietly dedicating their time to help those living with illness, frailty, disability, mental health challenges or addiction.

Why Self-Identification Matters

Recognising yourself as a carer can be life-changing. Too often, people think they’re just “helping out,” not realising that identifying as a carer opens the door to essential information and support. This can include financial guidance, wellbeing resources, respite services and advocacy.

Carers are often reached through familiar settings such as:

Workplace wellbeing strategies
GP and health service engagement
University, college and school pastoral teams
Local initiatives in shops, libraries and community hubs

These touchpoints can be the first step towards the help that can ease pressure and improve quality of life.

Support Is Out There

Across the UK, there are organisations ready to provide free and confidential support for unpaid carers – helping them navigate benefits, manage stress and feel less alone. Carers should never have to miss out on the help available to them, no matter how long they’ve been caring or where they live.

If you think you or someone you know might be an unpaid carer, you can find support in your area by using your postcode at Help for Carers | Comprehensive Support from Carers.

Take That First Step

This Carers Rights Day, let’s make sure more people know their rights, feel valued and have access to the support they deserve. Caring for someone is one of the most selfless things a person can do, but no one should do it without knowing their rights.

Taking that first step can truly make all the difference.

Ready to work together?

Find out how we can support your patients and their family and friend unpaid carers or team through training, consultancy or coaching. Let’s talk about what you need.