EVERY day, 6,000 people in the UK begin caring for a loved one or a friend who is disabled, seriously-ill or older. For some, taking on a caring role is sudden. For others it, caring creeps up unnoticed.

Whether you provide round-the-clock care or look after someone for a few hours a week, whether you care for someone in your own home or at the end of the motorway, caring can have a huge effect on us, our lives and our plans.

Carers say it can be really hard to get the help they need when their caring journey begins or when their circumstances change. Without this support, caring can take a serious toll on a person’s health, relationships and finances.

That’s why, for Carers Rights Day we’ve created Upfront, the first online guide of its kind to help those who are new to caring get the information that is right for them and their unique caring situation. We will also be publishing our annual Carers Rights Guide, giving carers up-to-date information on their rights and signposting them to further support.

With hundreds of events taking place in communities across the UK, Carers Rights Day is a fantastic opportunity to help carers learn more about their rights and the support they are entitled to. So if you know someone who is looking after a loved one, make sure they are getting all the help they’re entitled to by connecting them to Carers UK.

Carers Rights Day is this Friday, November 20. For more information, to access the online Upfront guide to caring, or to get your free copy of our Carers Rights Guide, visit: www.carersuk.org/carersrightsday

Heléna Herklots

Chief Executive, Carers UK