Carers' Rights Day 2025: Know Your Rights, Use Your Rights

Image and information from Carers UK

Carers Rights Day 2025 will take place on Thursday, 20 November, spotlighting the critical need for the UK's millions of unpaid carers to “Know Your Rights, Use Your Rights”.  This annual national campaign, organised by Carers UK, is a crucial opportunity to raise awareness of the legal rights, entitlements, and support available to those who dedicate their lives to caring for a family member, partner, or friend.

The Vital Role of Unpaid Carers

Unpaid carers are the backbone of the UK's health and social care system, providing essential support to those who are older, disabled, or have a long-term illness. While the role is often rewarding, it can also lead to significant challenges impacting a carer's own health, finances, employment, and wellbeing. Many people don't even identify as a 'carer,' meaning they miss out on vital support and statutory rights.

The 2025 theme is a direct call to action, urging both new and experienced carers to understand their entitlements and feel confident in asserting them, whether in the workplace, when engaging with healthcare professionals, or in accessing local services.

 Key Legal Rights for Carers in the UK

Understanding your legal rights is the first step toward accessing the support you need. While specific provisions can vary across the UK nations (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), here are some of the most important rights for unpaid carers:

1. The Right to a Carer’s Assessment

Any adult (over 18) who provides or intends to provide regular, substantial care to another adult is legally entitled to a “Carer's Assessment” from their local council's Adult Social Services. This is a chance to discuss how your caring role affects you and to identify your own needs for support.

What it covers: It looks at whether you need things like replacement care (respite breaks), help with travel or utility costs, emotional support, or information on local groups.

Crucially, you are entitled to this regardless of the amount of care you provide, your financial situation, or the needs of the person you care for.

2. Workplace Rights

For those juggling care responsibilities with paid employment, recent legislation offers increased protection and flexibility:

Carer's Leave Act 2023: Employees who are carers have a statutory right to take one week (five days) of unpaid leave per year to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need. This right applies from day one of employment.

Flexible Working: All employees have the legal right to request flexible working from the first day of their employment. An employer must deal with the request reasonably and within a two-month period.

Protection from Discrimination: The Equality Act 2010 protects against direct discrimination or harassment in the workplace due to your caring responsibilities ("discrimination by association").

3. Health and Financial Rights

Financial Support: You may be eligible to claim Carer's Allowance. If you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and meet the eligibility criteria. Even if you cannot receive the payment, you may be awarded an underlying entitlement, which helps protect your State Pension contributions.

Free Flu Vaccination: As a carer, you have a right to request a free annual flu vaccination to help protect both yourself and the person you care for.

Identification as a Carer: You can ask your GP practice to record you as an unpaid carer on your patient record. This ensures you are recognised and may allow you priority access to things like health checks and public health campaigns.

4. Involvement in Care Planning

You have the right to be consulted and involved in decision-making when the local authority or health services are making decisions about the care and support of the person you look after, including their discharge from the hospital.

Getting Involved on Carers Rights Day

Carers' Rights Day is not just a day for charities and professionals; it is an opportunity for everyone to play a part.

Carers: Use the day to contact your local Carers Centre or a national charity like Carers UK or Carers Trust. Book a benefits check, request a Carer's Assessment, or attend a local event to get informed.

Employers:  Review your policies to ensure they are 'Carer Friendly.' Promote the right to Carers' Leave and Flexible Working to all staff.

General Public: Help spread the word! Share information about carers' rights on social media or in your local community to help someone recognise their role and access support.

Knowing your rights is essential for sustaining your health, well-being, and ability to care. Carers Rights Day 2025 is the perfect time to commit to making sure that every carer is seen, heard, and supported.

For further information please visit www.carersuk.org/

The Brightwell Carers Support Group.

We have an active and supportive group here at the Centre. The group led by Wendy Patterson is keen to hear your views and suggestions about how the Centre can best support Carers. So, whether or not you can come along to one of our sessions, or would like to talk, we would love to hear from you. You can contact Wendy by leaving a message at Reception.

Don’t forget to take a look at the leaflets and information available at the Carers Information Point. This can be found in the area beyond the Café.

Our next meeting

Thursday 20 January 2 - 4 pm  Hints and Tips for Carers. This is a free event.

Places are available face-to-face at The Brightwell or via Zoom

For further information, please see our blog, newsletter and social media.

Please call Reception on 01454 201 686 or email hello@thebrightwell.org.uk