To mark Carers Week 2026, Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Member of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton, joined Alison Bennett, Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex and Lib Dem spokesperson for Care and Carers, at Kingston Carers Network to meet with local unpaid carers.
Organised in collaboration with Carers UK, the event offered a valuable opportunity for the MPs to hear directly from carers about the challenges they face and the need for more comprehensive support.
With the theme of this year’s Carers Week, Building Carer Friendly Communities, the event highlighted the support and resources Kingston Carers Network offer to carers, and the importance of creating a community where carers feel recognised and valued.
Sir Ed Davey, Alison Bennett, and Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, joined young and adult carers to create different elements of communities using Lego. Participants built a young carers centre, benches where carers could meet, and parks for carers to have space to take time outside, all highlighting the importance of carer friendly communities.
Reflecting on the afternoon, Sir Ed Davey said:
“As a carer myself, I know how rewarding yet challenging it can be. Carers reorganise their lives to carry out their responsibilities, expecting nothing in return.
Carers are the unsung heroes of our NHS and social care system.
I was so glad to mark Carers Week by speaking to carers and asking them what this year's theme, 'building carer friendly communities', means to them.
It is why I am calling for carers' work to be recognised, and for a statutory guarantee of regular respite breaks for all carers.
I want to build a future where carers have access to equal opportunities, like sports clubs and community groups, so they can continue living their lives to the fullest around their vital caring responsibilities.”
Helen Walker, Chief Executive, Carers UK said:
“A truly carer friendly community is one where caring is understood, valued, and supported as part of everyday life. This means that neighbours, employers, schools, and local services recognise what caring involves and listen to carers themselves.
It was brilliant to join unpaid carers, Sir Ed Davey MP and Alison Bennett MP at Kingston Carers Network to hear directly about the difference that support and local connections can make. We need to make support easy to find and access, wherever you live in the UK so that no one feels as if they are caring alone."
Rachael Stokes, Chief Executive of Kingston Carers Network, said:
"For Kingston Carers Network (KCN), creating carer friendly communities is about ensuring carers in our borough are recognised, valued and enabled to live and care well.
It is about ensuring our local schools, GP practices, pharmacies and employers know how identify and support unpaid carers, as well as connect them to specialist services they might need.
Above all, it is about ensuring no carer feels they are caring alone. Today’s event is a step in this direction – and recognition that action is needed both locally and nationally to make this vision a reality.
If we succeed in our mission of creating carer friendly communities, every week will become carers week.”
