Today, Monday 9 June, Somerset Council will share a poem written and read by Somerset resident and previous unpaid carer, Alison Birket.
The poem, titled ‘Twenty-four hours in the life of a carer‘ vividly illustrates the emotional and physical challenges faced by unpaid carers, spoken by someone who has real experience.
Monday 9 June is the first day of Carers Week 2025, a yearly awareness week organised by Carers UK. The theme is ‘Caring About Equality’, which aims to highlight the inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation and poor mental and physical health.
In Somerset, the 2021 census found that there were around 50,000 residents who were providing unpaid care to a friend or relative. Of those, 26,000 (or 30%) provided more than 50 hours of unpaid care each week.
Despite contributing an estimated £184 billion to the UK economy each year, many carers feel undervalued and unsupported.
On Monday evening, Somerset Council’s Taunton office will be lighting up blue in recognition of Somerset’s estimated 50,000 unpaid carers.
Throughout the week, the Council will use its social media channels to promote some of the free resources available to people to help them in their caring role.
This support includes:
- Links to the free Carers’ Information Roadshows which are hosted by the Council’s valued partner, Somerset Carers, and are happening across Somerset throughout 2025. The next will be in Yeovil on Thursday 26 June.
- Promoting a free series of webinars that the Council hosted in early 2025. These brought together experts in various areas of adult social care to help unpack some of the topics which are most difficult to navigate when starting on a caring journey, including:
- Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney,
- financial assessments for care funding,
- Direct Payments, and more.
Councillor Fran Smith, Associate Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Housing at Somerset Council, said:
A lot of people deliver unpaid care every day but are not aware that they are unpaid carers. This is because they are often carers for a loved-one, like Alison in her touching poem.
We want to remind people that anyone looking after a friend or family member in an unpaid capacity is entitled to help, whether it be via the Council or in their community. There are a series of free information days happening across Somerset which we really encourage that they go along to if they can, and we also have lots of resources on our website.
In 2024, Somerset Council joined forces with NHS Somerset and community organisations like Evolving Communities to launch the ‘Commitment to Carers‘ strategy, explaining their ongoing commitment to supporting unpaid carers in Somerset.
Carers are encouraged to visit the Council’s Carers in Somerset page for more information about the support that is available.
