Across the UK, millions of people provide unpaid care for somebody they love.

They may be supporting an elderly parent, a partner, a child, another relative or a friend who requires additional help with everyday life.

Many would never describe themselves as a “carer”. They simply see themselves as a husband, wife, son, daughter, parent, sibling or friend doing what needs to be done.

Yet caring responsibilities can have a significant effect on someone’s time, finances, employment and everyday life.

For community charities, recognising unpaid carers is important because helping the person providing care can often strengthen the whole household.

What Is an Unpaid Carer?

An unpaid carer is generally someone who provides regular assistance to another person because of illness, disability, a mental health difficulty, addiction or another support need, without doing so as their paid employment.

The NHS guidance for carers provides information about practical support and services that may be available.

Unpaid caring can take many forms.

Someone might help another person:

• Prepare meals
• Attend appointments
• Shop for essentials
• Manage everyday household tasks
• Travel safely
• Communicate with services
• Maintain a routine
• Access appropriate professional support

Some people provide a few hours of assistance each week.

Others may effectively be providing support around the clock.

Caring Can Affect Household Finances

Caring responsibilities can create financial pressure in several ways.

A person may reduce their working hours.

They might turn down overtime because they need to be at home.

Some people may leave employment entirely.

There can also be additional household expenses associated with caring.

For a family already managing a tight budget, these pressures can make ordinary costs such as food, clothing, transport and household bills more difficult to manage.

Recognising People Who Don’t Recognise Themselves as Carers

One challenge is that many unpaid carers do not immediately identify with the term.

Someone may say:

“I’m not a carer. I’m looking after my mum.”

But recognising their caring role can be important because it may help them discover information and support they did not know existed.

Carers UK provides information and resources specifically for unpaid carers.

Carers Trust also works to improve support, services and recognition for unpaid carers.

Community organisations can help by making people aware that these resources exist.

Practical Help Can Make a Difference

Supporting an unpaid carer does not always require a complicated programme.

Sometimes practical assistance is incredibly valuable.

Depending on individual circumstances, community support might include:

• Food assistance
• Clothing
• Household essentials
• Emergency hampers
• Information about local services
• Signposting towards specialist organisations

If someone spends much of their time caring for another person, removing even one everyday worry can be meaningful.

Food Support Can Reduce Pressure

Imagine someone caring for an elderly parent while also trying to work and manage their own household.

Finding time to shop and prepare everything the family needs may become another challenge.

A practical food hamper does not solve the wider circumstances, but it can provide immediate assistance during a particularly difficult week.

This is where smaller community charities can complement larger services.

The aim is not to replace professional or statutory support.

It is to help with some of the everyday pressures surrounding it.

Young Carers Need Recognition Too

Not every unpaid carer is an adult.

Children and young people can also have caring responsibilities within their families.

They may help a parent, sibling or another family member while simultaneously managing school, friendships and their own development.

The Children’s Society information on young carers explains more about the challenges young carers can experience.

Barnardo’s also provides services supporting children, young people and families across the UK.

Young carers deserve opportunities to learn, socialise and enjoy their childhood alongside any responsibilities they may have at home.

Employers Can Support Working Carers

Businesses also have an important role.

Some employees may be balancing work with significant responsibilities outside the workplace.

A supportive employer can create an environment where people feel able to discuss those pressures appropriately.

Employers can also support charities and organisations working with carers through fundraising, volunteering and awareness campaigns.

This means support for carers can extend beyond charities into workplaces throughout the community.

Local Communities Can Reduce Isolation

Caring responsibilities can sometimes make it harder to maintain social connections.

If somebody cannot easily leave the person they support, activities that other people take for granted can become difficult.

Meeting friends.

Attending community events.

Exercising.

Shopping.

Even having a few uninterrupted hours to themselves.

Local community networks can help ensure carers remain connected rather than becoming invisible.

Listen Before Deciding What People Need

One of the most important lessons for charities is to avoid making assumptions.

Not every carer needs the same assistance.

One person might need practical household support.

Another may primarily need information.

Someone else might benefit from being introduced to a specialist carers organisation.

Good community support starts by listening.

The Khaliq Foundation and Practical Family Support

The Khaliq Foundation’s work includes providing food, clothing and emergency hampers to vulnerable people.

Unpaid carers are an important group for community organisations to recognise because financial or practical hardship affecting the carer can affect the entire household.

There may be opportunities for charities, businesses and community groups across North Manchester and Greater Manchester to work together to ensure carers know where appropriate assistance can be found.

Businesses Could Sponsor Carer Support Hampers

One practical campaign could involve local businesses sponsoring household hampers for families experiencing financial hardship where significant caring responsibilities are involved.

Businesses could contribute:

• Food
• Toiletries
• Household essentials
• Financial donations
• Employee fundraising
• Volunteer time

A focused campaign can also raise awareness of unpaid caring alongside providing practical assistance.

Awareness Is Part of the Solution

Sometimes the most valuable thing a community organisation can do is direct someone towards the right specialist service.

Charities should know their limits.

Complex questions about benefits, social care, health or legal rights should be directed towards appropriately qualified organisations and official services.

But community charities can still play an important role in helping people discover those resources.

Looking Ahead

Unpaid carers contribute an enormous amount to families and communities.

Many do it quietly.

There is no uniform.

No job title.

Often there is no recognition at all.

Yet behind countless households is somebody organising meals, attending appointments, providing reassurance and making sure another person is supported.

Helping carers is therefore not only about helping one individual.

It can help strengthen an entire family.

For The Khaliq Foundation, continuing to recognise the different circumstances behind financial hardship will help us provide practical community support with understanding, dignity and compassion.