Today we launched 'Building Carer Friendly Communities: a blueprint', as part of Carers Week 2026. The blueprint sets out a shared vision for creating communities where unpaid carers are recognised, understood and supported in every aspect of daily life.
Developed by Carers UK alongside Carers Week supporter charities, the blueprint highlights the vital contribution unpaid carers make to families, communities, health and social care systems, while also recognising the challenges many carers face, including isolation, financial pressures, poor health and difficulties balancing caring with work or education. The blueprint provides practical guidance, principles and examples of good practice to help organisations, employers, health and social care services, education providers, businesses, voluntary organisations and local communities take meaningful action to become more carer friendly.
The blueprint focuses on improving the visibility of carers, ensuring carers have a voice in shaping services, creating flexible and inclusive systems, addressing inequalities experienced by carers, and strengthening partnership working across sectors. Ultimately, the blueprint is a call for collective action across the UK to build communities where every carer feels recognised, valued and supported.
