Carers Right’s Day 2025 – ‘Know your rights, use your rights.’
Carers Rights Day 2025 is happening on Thursday 20th November, and it’s all about shining a light on the rights of the UK’s 5.8 million unpaid carers. This year marks a big milestone—25 years since the campaign began back in 2000!
This year’s theme for Carers Rights Day is “Know your rights, use your rights.” It’s all about helping carers understand what they’re entitled to—whether that’s support at work, access to healthcare, or financial help. It also encourages carers to feel confident speaking up and asking for what they need, like time off or being involved in decisions about hospital care. Most importantly, it aims to make navigating the often confusing systems easier, so carers can get the support they deserve without unnecessary stress.
Every day, around 12,000 people in the UK step into a caring role for someone they love—a partner, family member, or friend. But many don’t even realise they’re carers, and that means they often miss out on the support, benefits, and rights they’re entitled to.
Caring can be tough on your mental health. Lots of carers say they feel constantly overwhelmed, anxious, and emotionally drained. Stress, burnout, and loneliness are common, especially when there’s little time for breaks and not enough support. Trying to juggle caring with work, family, and everything else can really take its toll.
No one should miss out on help that’s there to make life a bit easier. Whether someone’s caring full-time, balancing it with a job, just starting out, or has been doing it for years—every carer deserves to know their rights and feel confident using them.
10 Key Rights for Unpaid Carers in the UK
1. You have the right to choose to be a carer
No one can force you into the role or dictate what tasks you must do. You decide what you’re willing and able to take on—and you can change your mind at any time. The local council is responsible for providing care, not you.
2. Carer’s Assessment (for adult carers)
If you’re caring for an adult, you have the right to ask your local council for a carer’s assessment to explore your needs and access support.
3. Parent Carer Needs Assessment
If you’re caring for a child or young person with additional needs, you’re entitled to a parent carer needs assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014.
4. Unpaid Carer’s Leave
You’re entitled to up to one week of unpaid leave per year from day one of employment to help manage caring responsibilities.
5. Emergency Time Off
You can take reasonable time off work to deal with unexpected care situations involving a dependent.
6. Flexible Working
You have the right to request changes to your working hours, pattern, or location to help balance work and care.
7. P rotection from Discrimination
Under the Equality Act 2010, carers are protected from discrimination related to their caring role.
8. Financial Support
You may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance and other benefits to help with the financial impact of caring.
9. GP Recognition
You can register as a carer with your GP to access priority health services, such as free flu vaccinations.
10. Hospital Discharge Involvement
You have the right to be involved in planning when the person you care for is discharged from hospital.
So, why do carers’ rights matter?
Carers are so valuable to our communities, but their challenges often go unnoticed. Over half say they feel overwhelmed most of the time, and every day, more than 600 carers leave their jobs because they’re not getting the support they need. Yet unpaid carers provide care worth around £184 billion a year—keeping our health and social care systems going.
This Carers Rights Day, let’s make sure carers feel seen, heard, and supported. It’s not just about knowing what help is out there—it’s about making sure carers feel valued and respected for everything they do.
I am a carer - where can I go for support?
Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it also comes with challenges. Along with talking therapy support from Wellbeing Suffolk, there are a range of support services to help unpaid carers look after their wellbeing, access resources, and connect with others.
Suffolk Family Carers
A leading charity supporting carers of all ages across Suffolk.
Emotional support & advocacy
Carer assessments & personalised plans
Young carer programmes
Local peer support groups for carers
Suffolk County Council - Carers Support
Provides practical help through Adult Social Care.
Carer’s assessments & emergency planning
Financial advice (Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Credit)
Health & wellbeing support
Help for Carers - Suffolk County Council
Carers UK
Provides expert information and advice to people looking after a loved one.
Expert advice on benefits,legal rights, assessments, health, work, and wellbeing.
A directory of local carer organisations and support services nearby.
Online helpline and guides for carers of all ages
Carers Trust
A wealth of information online to help unpaid carers access the support they need.
Largest network for unpaid carers in the UK.
Offers grants, replacement care, breaks, advice .
Tailored support for both adult and young carers.
Carers Trust | Transforming the lives of carers
Further Support from Wellbeing Suffolk
For free we offer:
Online Wellbeing Workshops, lots of which are now available to watch on demand at a time and place that suits you
Podcasts - we have a podcast called ‘How the Caring role can impact your Wellbeing ’ where the Suffolk Family Carers Wellbeing team discuss how the caring role can impact on your wellbeing, and how self-care and self-compassion can make a difference.
Remember all our services are completely free and available to anyone aged 16 or over living in Suffolk.
Visit our Carer Advice page for an overview of all the free support available to you as a carer.
