Celebrating Carers Week

Elliott Hills - Communications Officer

This Carers Week, we at Age UK East London want to take a moment to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of the millions of unpaid carers.   The UK is a nation of carers: data from Carers UK shows that unpaid carers save the UK economy close to £184 billion a year. This is the value of a second NHS. 

Carers are family members, friends, and neighbours who support loved ones with physical or mental health challenges, disabilities, or age-related conditions. Often, unpaid carers go unrecognised, juggling work, education, family, and social responsibilities while ensuring someone else’s needs are met,  usually before their own. This week is a chance to say thank you, to listen, and to champion their rights, wellbeing, and voices. 

Newham Carers Community

At Age UK East London, we are proud to support carers through Newham Carers Community, launched in May 2023. This service was created to meet the needs of both adult and young carers in Newham, offering practical, emotional, and social support tailored to the challenges they face. 

Since it began Newham Carers Community has supported: 

• 1,289 adult carers 

• 361 young carers 

Our team provides information, advice, and advocacy, as well as peer support groups, access to wellbeing activities, and assistance with navigating local services.  We’ve recently launched a carers forum, led by carers to collectively influence change and support one another in the borough.  

“Initially I was not aware of Newham Carers Community and I struggled for several years. But when I learnt of the support that was available from NCC I was very grateful. They linked me to activities that helped me to be a better person and carer. Thank you to all of the staff.” NCC Client. 

You can read more about the service and how to access it here. 

We are also partnered with City & Hackney Carers, who share the Marie Lloyd Centre in Hackney with us, where they run affordable counselling, mindfulness, wellbeing activities and more.   

Carers in the Workplace

This week Carers UK released their new Caring About Equality report showing that 46% of carers in employment say they face disadvantages in relation to staying in paid work and career opportunities.  At Age UK East London, many of our own staff members also have caring responsibilities, and we’re committed to creating a workplace that supports them. 

Following the introduction of the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, we launched a new Carer’s Leave Policy, going a step further than the statutory offer. While the Act entitles carers to one week of unpaid leave per year, we offer this time as fully paid. Since launching this policy, we’ve already approved seven requests. 

We also reviewed and strengthened our Flexible Working Policy last year. Managers are encouraged to take proactive steps to accommodate flexible working needs, including during recruitment. As a result, we’ve accepted 13 flexible working requests, many from colleagues with caring responsibilities. 

To All Carers: Thanks You

Carers Week is a time to recognise, support, and celebrate the unpaid carers who make such a vital differenceevery single day. It’s also a time to highlight the importance of giving carers the resources, time, and recognition they deserve. 

To every carer across East London, and throughout the UK: thank you.  

To find out more about Carers Week and how you can get involved, visit www.carersweek.org.