One in eight 'are unpaid carers'

At the start of Carers Week, charities have pledged to tackle the public’s ignorance about the vital role millions of their fellow citizens play in looking after those in need.

In the UK 6.5 million people , or one in eight adults, are already caring for a family member or close friend who is frail or facing long-term illness or disability.

A Carers Week/You Gov poll shows that adults of all ages drastically underestimate the issue, with only a tiny fraction (9%) of the nation correctly stating the true scale of unpaid, family care.

And while numbers are predicted to rise to nine million by 2037 , most adults don’t think caring will happen to them. Less than a third of adults who are currently not carers (29%) believe it likely they will become carers in the future, the survey found.

Speaking on behalf of the nine charities behind Carers Week 2014 Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

"The reality is that all of us, at some point in our lives, will either be carers or need the help of carers.

"This survey is a wake-up call, clearly and alarmingly showing that as a society we need a much wider understanding of the realities of caring.”

Part of the awareness-raising activities is the Carers Week Quest, a new initiative to encourage improved collaborative working in local communities to reach out to carers. It aims to reach out to the thousands of carers in the UK who are currently missing out on services and support.

At the heart of activity will be a focus on working together in local communities to reach as many carers as possible during Carers Week which takes place from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 June.

People can pledge support to the Carers Week Quest by sharing online how they plan to reach out to the thousands of carers missing out on support and services.

Thea Stein, Chief Executive of Carers Trust, said:

“Carers Week is a great opportunity to highlight the vital role played by millions of unpaid carers across the UK. Many of them are carers but don’t realise it or know where to get the help and support they need. We hope that Carers Week will help to raise awareness of the crucial part they play in their families and communities”.