Carers Week starts June 8

Carers Week 2026 will run from Monday, June 8, to Sunday, June 14, with organizers using this year’s campaign to press for “Building Carer Friendly Communities.” The annual U.K. awareness week is led by Carers UK with partner charities and is intended to raise awareness of unpaid caring, highlight the pressures carers face and help more people identify themselves as carers and seek support. The campaign site says carer-friendly communities are places, services and groups where unpaid carers are “recognised, understood, and valued.” ### When does Carers Week start, and who is running it? Carers Week starts on June 8, according to the campaign website and Carers UK. The organizers say the week runs through June 14 and is delivered by Carers UK in partnership with supporting charities. Carers UK said in a February announcement that the 2026 campaign is backed by headline sponsor TSB Bank. Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said at the time that the week was “a crucial chance” to help build communities that support unpaid carers’ health, relationships and financial security. (carersuk.org) ### What does “Building Carer Friendly Communities” mean? (carersuk.org) The 2026 theme is “Building Carer Friendly Communities,” the campaign site says. Organizers define those communities as places, spaces, services and community groups where unpaid carers are recognized, understood and valued, and where support is part of everyday life. The Carers Week website says the theme is intended to show “the power of building carer friendly communities” and the difference they can make to carers’ lives. (carersuk.org) Carers UK said the campaign is calling for better recognition and support for unpaid carers. ### Which event is drawing attention before the week begins? A June 10 online event organized by Carers Scotland and North Lanarkshire Carers Together focuses on “Cultural Challenges and Caring,” according to Carer Positive and an Eventbrite listing. (carersweek.org) The session is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon U.K. time and is billed as a discussion of cultural challenges in caring and support for unpaid carers. Carer Positive said the event is tied to Carers Week and is aimed at employers in North and Lanarkshire. The listing describes it as an online discussion held in partnership with North Lanarkshire Carers Together. ### Why are organizers emphasizing practical support? Carers UK says one purpose of Carers Week is to help people who do not think of themselves as carers identify their caring responsibilities and access support. (carerpositive.org) That framing puts the campaign’s emphasis on practical information and visible entry points, including downloadable resources and partner-run events. NHS England said in its Carers Week event notice that the campaign recognizes the contribution of an estimated 5.8 million unpaid carers across England. (carerpositive.org) That figure is one reason national and local bodies are using the week to host information sessions, awareness events and community activities. ### Where can carers find events and materials? (carersuk.org) The Carers Week website has campaign information, themed materials and partner resources for the June 8-14 week. Separate organizations have also posted local schedules, including in-person and online sessions tied to the campaign. June 10 is one of the named dates already on the calendar, with the Carers Scotland and North Lanarkshire Carers Together online discussion scheduled that day. (events.england.nhs.uk) Additional events and downloads are being posted through partner organizations and the official Carers Week site ahead of the June 8 start. (carerpositive.org) (carersweek.org)