If there is one thing you can say about caring, it’s that it does not discriminate. Caring is a leveller, as anyone, of any age and any demographic, can become a carer. However, that’s where any notion of equality ends. Becoming a carer will inevitably involve complications and complexities, which mean that life is more difficult compared to those who do not have a caring role. In this respect, the theme for this year’s Carers Week – Caring about Equality – is very apt.
Every year Carers Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about caring and why it is so important to support carers. This year, at Suffolk Family Carers, we couldn’t wait to get started. And so we didn’t wait! A couple of weeks’ before Carers Week we supported our fantastic new patron, Onjali Q Rauf, in her quest to improve the lives of young carers. Using her Hay Festival speaking slot on 31st May, Onjali spoke with passion about her children’s book – The Letter with the Golden Stamp – and encouraged her audience to send a postcard to the Prime Minister urging him to provide more support for young carers. Young carers are a cohort who are disadvantaged in education and through the life course by the impacts of caring.
The week before Carers Week, we attended the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce People and Skills Group, where we explained the importance of supporting carers in the workplace. Working carers often find they cannot balance work with their caring roles, and a shocking number of carers end up leaving employment, thereby reducing their financial security and sometimes ending up in poverty. Support from employers can lessen this impact, through flexible working and contingency planning.
The theme of Equality has been explored throughout this week, with social media responding each day to the new theme. We also made sure that the overarching objective of Carers Week – to raise awareness – was thoroughly met across our county, with a host of information sessions, drop ins and workshops. Suffolk Family Carers was visible in the three acute hospitals that serve Suffolk, in various towns across the county and online too.
Carers Week is a very clever way of getting the conversation started about caring. But carers are caring throughout the year. One of my reflections from this week is how do we make sure the conversation continues when Carers Week is over? And how do we support carers if we are not carers ourselves? I think it is down to each of us to sign up to one action. It can be as simple as you like. Here are some suggestions:
- Spend time with someone you know who is a carer. Providing someone with a chance to chat is often very welcome, whether about their caring role or not
- If you are working, talk to your employer. Enquire whether your organisation has carer friendly policies. This might be easier to do for you than for those in your organisation who are carers
- If you are a carer, recognise that you are entitled to support. Get in contact with Suffolk Family Carers and we can discuss how we can help you.
If Carers Week has inspired you this year, please get in touch to support the cause in 2026.
Kirsten Alderson, CEO of Suffolk Family Carers
