Families across Bath and North East Somerset are being encouraged to recognise when they, or someone they know, is an unpaid carer as part of Carers Week 2026, helping them access support before reaching crisis point.
The appeal comes from The Carers’ Centre, which supports more than 8,000 unpaid carers across the region. The charity says many people do not realise they are carers because they see their role simply as part of being a parent, spouse, son, daughter or friend.
For many families, caring responsibilities can include helping an elderly parent, supporting a child with additional needs, assisting a partner with a disability or providing practical support such as shopping, collecting prescriptions or attending appointments.
This year’s Carers Week, running from 8-14 June, focuses on the theme of building carer-friendly communities. The Carers’ Centre is using the week to encourage people to identify themselves as carers earlier so they can access support, advice and wellbeing services.
The charity offers free support for carers of all ages, including peer support groups, wellbeing activities, a Freephone helpline and opportunities to connect with others facing similar challenges.
As part of the campaign, members of the centre’s Carers Voice advisory group have shared their experiences of caring and how support from other carers has helped them.
Margaret became a carer when her husband suffered a stroke but did not initially recognise herself as one.
She said, “I became a carer when my husband had a stroke. But I didn’t think I was a carer; I was his wife.”
She explained that joining The Carers’ Centre helped her find support from people who understood the realities of caring and wished she had sought help sooner.
Charlotte had a similar experience while caring for her mother, son and later her aunt.
She said, “I had been caring for my mother and for my son, but they lived with me and I thought it was normal to look after an aging parent and a child.”
Charlotte believes earlier recognition of her role would have helped her access financial support and practical advice sooner.
For Steve, who has cared for his wife for 25 years, opportunities to meet other carers have helped reduce the isolation that can often come with caring responsibilities. He said local carer cafés provide a valuable opportunity to meet others and share experiences with people who understand the challenges involved.
Jacqui Orchard, Chief Executive Officer of The Carers’ Centre, said many unpaid carers do not identify themselves as carers because they associate their support with family relationships.
She said recognising a caring role early can make it easier to access support and navigate the challenges that often arise over time.
Councillor Alison Born, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said the authority remains committed to ensuring carers can access support when they need it.
The council and The Carers’ Centre supported more than 1,500 carers across Bath and North East Somerset during 2025.
Families who would like to find out more about the support available can visit the charity’s website or attend a drop-in session at The Carers’ Centre, The Woodlands, Lower Bath Road, Bath, between 12pm and 1.30pm on Wednesday 10 June.
For many parents caring for children with additional needs, ageing relatives or family members with health conditions, recognising that they are carers could be the first step towards finding practical help, emotional support and a community that understands the challenges they face.
