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Blue Carers' Week logo

Carers Week  is a national awareness campaign dedicated to recognising the vital contribution unpaid carers make to families, communities and society across the UK. The week also aims to raise awareness of the challenges carers can face and to help people identify themselves as carers so they can access appropriate support and resources.

The theme for Carers Week 2026 is Building Carer Friendly Communities, highlighting the importance of creating inclusive and supportive communities that recognise, value and empower carers. Throughout the week, individuals and organisations across the country will be taking part in activities and initiatives designed to raise awareness and promote positive change for carers everywhere.

Who is a Carer?

According to Carers UK, a carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction, or who needs extra help as they grow older. It isn’t someone who volunteers or is employed to provide support.

Carers UK report that, whilst many feel that caring is one of the most important things they do, it can also have a significant impact on physical, mental and financial wellbeing, which is why it is vitally important to recognise the contribution carers make and ensure they get the support they need. Of those surveyed, almost 60% said that being valued as a carer would improve their wellbeing.

Carers Week at Sussex

To mark Carers Week, The Parent and Carer Network are hosting an online workshop ‘Building Healthy Screen Time Habits’.  The session is taking place on 10June, 12.00pm to 1.30pm. It is  suitable for parents and carers of school-aged children and builds on content introduced in the Managing Children’s Screen Time workshop (December 2025), although previous attendance is not required.

For more details and to book please visit:   Building Healthy Screen Time Habits with Katie Bradbury

Carers Week local events

The Carers Centre Brighton and Hove will once again be hosting their free annual Carers Festival in celebration of unpaid carers in Brighton & Hove. This free event is a chance to celebrate the contribution of unpaid carers, find out more about available support and connect with local services. Free activities and refreshments will also be available, while stocks last.

No need to book, just come along on the day:  10 June, 10.00am to 5.00pm, The Open Market, London Road.

For more information about this event please visit the Carers Festival 2026 website

Support at Sussex

Students who are Carers

If you are finding balancing the requirements of your course with caring responsibilities a challenge, you can get support from:

• your school advisor – you can discuss way to make your course manageable. Speak to your School’s team to find out how to access this support
• the Student Centre – you can get confidential, pre-booked appointments (in-person or via Zoom) on a range of issues. There are also drop-in sessions, events and other activities throughout the year.
• the Students' Union – which exists to support the experience of all students, with elected Student Officers and Reps, clubs and societies, events, flexible employment opportunities and more.

Find out more about support, including parking on campus and local services on the students who are carers webpage.

Staff who are Carers

We provide guidance and support for staff at Sussex who have caring responsibilities through our Carer support policies webpages. These include information on flexible working, parental and dependants’ leave, the Sussex Parent and Carer Staff Network, the Carer Fund, on-campus childcare, and more.

If you identify as a carer then don’t forget you can add this information to your MyView equality data here: Welcome - MyView (sussex.ac.uk)

Sussex Parent and Carer Staff Network

The network was established in 2020 as a response to the challenges of staff balancing their professional lives with their caring responsibilities during the pandemic. Since then, network members have worked to provide a collective voice to ensure the experiences of carers are represented and respected within the University. 

More information and how to join can be found here: Sussex Parent and Carer Staff Network.

Wellbeing Support at Sussex

Sussex is dedicated to supporting your wellbeing. There are a range of resources and services on offer designed to meet your needs. Whether you're looking for guidance, tools, or someone to talk to. Please visit the Staff Wellbeing Hub webpage for more information.

Further Resources

More information and carers week resources can be found on the Carers Week website, including ways to get support or join the campaign.