Yesterday (Wednesday 11th June), charities brought unpaid carers to an event in Parliament to share their experiences of caring with MPs and Peers. The event was hosted by Anna Dixon MP, Labour MP for Shipley and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Carers, to mark Carers Week.
Parliamentarians from both Houses met with unpaid carers to hear about their experiences of caring and the vital contribution they make to communities, and to better understand the inequalities carers face and the support they urgently need.
The event was organised by Carers UK and supported by seven other Carers Week supporter charities – Age UK, Carers Trust, Motor Neurone Disease Association, The ME Association, Oxfam GB, Rethink Mental Illness, and The Lewy Body Society – and TSB Bank, who are the headline sponsor of Carers Week 2025.
Together, these organisations are calling on the Government to commit to undertaking coordinated cross-Government action in support of unpaid carers, leading to the delivery of a new and ambitious National Carers Strategy. The strategy should address urgent issues facing unpaid carers, including improving identification and recognition of carers, addressing financial hardship, and supporting carers to juggle paid work with unpaid caring responsibilities.
Carers UK was delighted to welcome 100 MPs and Peers to the event, including Stephen Kinnock MP; Minister of State for Care, Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Work and Pensions; Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats; Baroness Louise Casey, and Baroness Jill Pitkeathley.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
"It was fantastic to see so many politicians from all nations and parties engaging directly with unpaid carers in Parliament this Carers Week. Carers from across the UK shared their powerful stories, highlighting how vital unpaid carers are to our communities – and how urgently they need better support.
We are incredibly grateful to all the carers who came to share their experiences and to the MPs and Peers who attended the event. Carers Week is a pivotal moment to call for action to address the inequalities unpaid carers currently face – it is time for politicians from all parties to work together to deliver meaningful change for carers.”
Anna Dixon, Labour Member of Parliament for Shipley, who sponsored the event said:
“I was delighted to sponsor the Carers Week parliamentary event this year to help raise awareness of the vitally important role that millions of unpaid carers play each day in looking after and supporting family and friends. It is important that carers have opportunities to meet with MPs and Peers to talk about their lived experiences of caring and the challenges they are facing, which is one of the reasons why I agreed to Chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Carers.
“I am proud to stand with Carers UK and the other charities involved this Carers Week in calling for greater equality for carers. I will continue to highlight the significant disadvantages that many carers face and advocate for the support carers need and deserve.”
Kate Osiadacz, Head of Responsible Business, TSB
“It was fantastic to see so many carers in Parliament, sharing their story with MPs as part of Carers Week. The UK could not function without the millions of unpaid carers who juggle their caring responsibilities and work. Today’s event was a great opportunity for carers to speak to MPs and Peers about what more then can do to help them balance their careers and caring responsibilities.
It was also encouraging to see other organisations at the event who are working to support unpaid carers. More and more businesses are recognising that they do not need to wait for law changes to adopt policies that help more carers stay in work.”
