Stuff we saw online:
“Unpaid carers play a vital role in society, supporting friends and family because of illness, disability, mental health problems or addiction. Caring is often rewarding but without the right support, it can come at a personal and financial cost.
We analysed national survey data from 2018 to 2025 on caring in the UK. 1 in 6 of all UK adults – equivalent to 8.9 million people – provided unpaid care in the period 2023–25 (similar to 2018–20). The true extent of unpaid care may be higher, since not all unpaid carers will identify as such.
Caring responsibilities did not fall equally: older people were more likely to be unpaid carers and women were 29% more likely than men to be unpaid carers.
Almost two-thirds (61%) of carers provided less than 20 hours of unpaid care a week. More than 1 in 5 (22%) unpaid carers provided more than 35 hours a week in 2023–25. These carers were more likely to provide care in the home.
37% of unpaid carers aged 18–29-years-old reported having a long-term health condition or being disabled, compared with 22% of 18–29-year-olds not providing unpaid care.
Working-age unpaid carers were less likely to be in paid employment – 59% were in paid employment, compared with 67% of working-age adults who were not carers. This fell to just 35% among those caring for more than 35 hours a week.”
— from Unpaid care: the realities of caring in the UK - The Health Foundation as of 29 September 2026