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An unpaid carer is anyone who provides unpaid care for a family member, partner, child, friend, or neighbour who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, could not cope without their support.

The person you are caring for might need help with things, including:

• getting washed and dressed or using the toilet
• eating and drinking or shopping
• managing their health – e.g. arranging or going to appointments, taking their medication
• managing their paperwork or finances e.g. budgeting, paying their bills, dealing with letters
• cleaning at home

This list does not include everything – caring can mean many different things. However, there are some signs which indicate that you, or someone you know, are a unpaid carer:

• you look after, or help to look after, an adult friend, neighbour or relative
• you have been juggling your job with your caring duties. You might even have given up or considered giving up your job or reducing your hours
• you help someone with their day-to-day tasks such as washing, dressing, cooking, or cleaning, who could not manage without your help
• you help someone get to the doctor, collect their prescriptions, or get their shopping because they cannot do these things themselves
• your job, personal relationships, social life, finances or leisure time have been affected by the help you have been providing

Anyone can be an unpaid carer, no matter their age or background. In many cases, your family circumstances may have recently changed which means you are now taking on caring responsibilities. You can be an unpaid carer if you are caring for 1 hour or over 50 hours.