Six million carers in the UK dedicate their time providing unpaid care to a relative or friend who is ill, frail or disabled.

Because of the time and energy they give to looking after their loved ones, carers are rarely able to pursue a life of their own. Carers give so much to society: it is essential that they do not sacrifice their own lives as a result.

Three in five of us will become a carer at some point in our lives, providing unpaid care to someone we know who is ill, frail or disabled. We would not expect to sacrifice our own lives as a result but, all too often, that is what happens.

Carers miss out on basic things that most of us take for granted: a weekend away, opportunity for promotion, a nice meal, even the chance to have a long bath or a full night’s sleep. The reasons for this vary from inadequate respite care, lack of information and practical support, disadvantages faced at work due to caring responsibilities and financial hardship as a result of caring.

This situation cannot continue. The support that carers give to society is vast; they save the state an estimated £87 billion – equivalent to the cost of running the NHS.* It’s time for carers, in turn, to receive the help they need and deserve.

Carers Week will be calling for greater support for carers to allow them to maintain a life of their own. We will be highlighting the incredible stories of carers; those who can describe how they have managed to create a life of their own, and those who feel that they are unable to.