Southampton City Council is proud to mark Carers Rights Day 2025 today, a national campaign led by Carers UK to help unpaid carers understand their rights and access vital support.

In the UK, 12,000 people become unpaid carers for a partner, family member or a friend every day. According to the 2021 Census, 18,136 people in Southampton (7.7%) provide some level of unpaid care. Many don’t see themselves as carers, often unaware of their legal rights and what they’re entitled to in terms of support and benefits. This is why the theme for this year’s Carers Rights Day is “Know your rights, use your rights”.

Carers Rights Day highlights new entitlements such as:

• Carer’s leave – up to five days of unpaid leave per year for employees with caring responsibilities.

• Flexible working – carers can request changes to working hours, location, or patterns from day one of employment.

• Recognition in healthcare – carers can ask their GP to identify them as a carer, which may provide priority access to certain health services.

Alongside this, Southampton City Council is highlighting its carers webpages, which offer advice, information, and practical guidance for unpaid carers. These can be found by typing: ‘Support for carers and care away from home’ into the Southampton City Council website search engine.

Southampton City Council is also highlighting the work of the Carers of People with Learning Disabilities Co-Production Group and the importance this group has in shaping services. The group provides carers and council officers with the opportunity to work collaboratively and design services in a way that works for unpaid carers and the cared for person.

Clare cares for her brother, Mike, who is registered blind and has a learning disability, and she is a carer who has benefitted from being a member of the Carers of People with Learning Disabilities Co-Production Group.

Talking about the group, Clare said: “The group provides carers and officers with the opportunity to work collaboratively and design services in a way that works for unpaid carers and the cared for person. The group has developed into a forum that is immensely useful to be part of and to feel you can actually have an impact. It’s knowledge, it’s opportunities, it’s communication. It’s relationships.

I now know a lot more about how the council works when it comes to adult social care and carers. I know about how other people have experienced things.”

Anna Ridolfo, Service Manager – Whole Life Pathway at Southampton City Council, said: “Being able to hear the voice of the carers and what’s real to them and what the real challenges are in their own words is really powerful for us. And that’s what the Carers of People with Learning Disabilities Co-Production Group has enabled to happen.”

To support carers across the city, Southampton City Council officers will be present at a special event at Portswood Church on Friday 21 November from 10am – 2pm, which is being hosted by Unpaid Carers Support Southampton. Carers will be able to speak to representatives from over 20 support agencies from across Southampton. They will be able to find out what help is available to them. People can book a free ticket for the event by visiting the Unpaid Carers Support Southampton website: unpaidcarerssupport.org.uk

Creating a more equal Southampton is one of the priorities in Southampton City Council’s Corporate Plan. This focuses on prevention, early support, and integrated care to improve health outcomes, support independent living, and ensure children and young people thrive.

Councillor Marie Finn, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health at Southampton City Council, said: ““Unpaid carers play a vital role in our communities, often balancing care responsibilities with work and other family commitments. We know that carers can neglect their own needs in providing care for their loved ones. Carers Rights Day is an opportunity for us to let people know what support is available and how to access it. We are committed to making Southampton a city that values and supports its carers.”

Sarah Brightwell, Carers Lead at Southampton City Council, said: “As a council, we are committed to supporting carers and will continue to listen to their lived experience to ensure that we build services that meet their needs. I would encourage people to visit our new webpage as this is a great resource that outlines the range of support that is available across Southampton.”

If you think you, or someone you know are an unpaid carer, visit the Southampton City Council website and search ‘Support for carers and care away from home’.

Image provide by Southampton City Council