It is fair to say that unpaid carers are vital to the backbone of our health and social care system. Every day, millions of people quietly support loved ones living with illness disability, mental health or physical ill health conditions or frailty age-related needs, often balancing caring responsibilities alongside work, family life and their own wellbeing.

The Government’s new Recognise, Refer, Reach action plan is a welcome step towards improving support for unpaid carers. Raising awareness, helping professionals identify carers earlier and improving access to information are all positive ambitions. However, recognising carers is only the beginning.

Recognition must lead to meaningful support

Public consultations and long-term strategies have an important place in shaping future policy, but family carers need practical support now.

Many carers continue to struggle with exhaustion, financial pressures, isolation and navigating complex services. Identifying someone as a carer has little value unless it is followed by timely advice, accessible support and clear pathways to the help they need, all of which needs to be appropriately and sustainably resourced

A joined-up and well-resourced social care system is essential if these ambitions are to become reality.

Everyone has a role to play

Supporting family carers should not fall solely to health and social care services.

The NHS, as one of the UK’s largest employers, has a significant opportunity to improve the experience of carers within its workforce and through the care it provides. Employers across every sector can also make a real difference by recognising carers, offering flexible working where possible and creating supportive workplace cultures.

Communities matter too. Simple Changes in places such as supermarkets, leisure centres, libraries and other public spaces can help create environments where carers feel recognised, included and supported rather than overlooked.

Measuring progress matters

Real change requires more than good intentions. We need clear ways of measuring whether carers’ lives are genuinely improving.

Are carers being identified earlier? Are they accessing support more easily? Do they feel less isolated? Are their legal rights being consistently upheld? These are the questions that should guide future progress.

There is also an ongoing conversation about whether stronger, mandatory requirements are needed to ensure carers’ rights are recognised consistently across organisations.

Think carer in service delivery first

Family carers save society billions of pounds every year, but their contribution cannot be taken for granted.

Creating lasting change means tackling stigma, improving collaboration between organisations and ensuring support is available when carers need it most. Recognition is important, but meaningful action is what will truly improve the lives of family and friend unpaid carers and the people they care for.