Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is joining organisations across the UK to support Carers Week 2025, which takes place from June 9 to 15. We also encourage local carers, businesses and other organisations to get involved.
Carers Week is an annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by unpaid carers and celebrating their invaluable contributions to families, friends, and communities across Wales and the UK. This year’s theme, Caring About Equality, highlights the challenges and inequalities unpaid carers experience and calls for a fairer society where they receive the support they deserve.
There are 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK, each one providing essential care to family members, friends, or neighbours who are ill, older, or disabled. Their dedication saves the UK economy an estimated £184 billion annually, the equivalent of a second NHS. Despite this, many carers struggle with financial hardship, social isolation, and declining health.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “Caring for a loved one should never be a reason for facing inequality, but sadly this is a reality for many in the UK. Unpaid carers are desperate for a break, for better health and social care provision, financial support and equality in the workplace. Over half say they need better understanding and recognition from the public.
“Carers Week 2025 is a crucial opportunity to raise awareness, highlighting those who provide essential care to family members, friends or neighbours who need it most. We want to see a future where carers have the right support and the same opportunities to lead healthy and financially secure lives alongside their caring role.
“Individuals, employers, businesses, schools, health and care services can make a difference by coming together to highlight the importance of ‘Caring about Equality’. With all parts of the community involved, we can work together for an equal society, where carers are recognised, valued and supported.”
To mark Carers Week 2025, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Carers Support Project has put together a programme of workshops and events for local unpaid carers.
In addition, the RCT Carers Support Project provides information, advice and support to local carers, including peer support groups, training, events, a carers emergency card service, and discounted access to local authority run leisure services.
The Council has shown its commitment to staff who are unpaid carers by becoming a member of Employers for Carers. Supported by the specialist knowledge of Carers UK and Carers Wales, Employers for Carers delivers hands-on advice to employers on how to support the estimated one-in-four workforce who are or will become carers.
The Council also provides specialist Support For RCT Carers as well as the RCT Carers Leisure Discount. To find out more, please email: carerssupportproject@rctcbc.gov.uk or call 01443 281463.
Councillor Gareth Caple, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “Carers play an essential role in our communities, often making personal sacrifices to support loved ones. This week is about recognising their dedication and ensuring they receive the support they deserve.
“Through events, workshops, and awareness campaigns, we hope to strengthen our commitment to unpaid carers and highlight the crucial changes needed to support them in every aspect of their lives.
“This year’s theme, Caring About Equality, reminds us of the urgent need to build a fairer society. Whether through workplace policies, community initiatives, or personal acts of kindness, we all have a role to play in making sure carers are valued, supported, and treated with dignity and respect.”
Established by Carers UK, Carers Week is an annual awareness raising campaign which recognises the vital contribution made by the UK’s 5.8 million carers. Carers Week 2025 is organised by Carers UK, alongside charity supporters Age UK, Carers Trust, MND Association, Oxfam GB, Rethink Mental Illness, The ME Association and The Lewy Body Society.
Together, the eight charities are welcoming individuals and organisations to join them in raising awareness, to increase visibility for carers with decision makers, services, employers, communities, and businesses.
To find out more about Carers Week 2025, please visit: www.carersweek.org
Local events:
Monday, June 9
- Carers Craft Session with Hannah, 2-3.30pm, Carers Support Hub. Join our lovely friend of the project, Hannah, from Growing Space Pontypridd as she guides you through this creative session.
Tuesday, June 10
- Carers Connections (monthly event), 10am-11.30am, Carers Support Hub. Carers Connections is a peer support group led by a qualified Counsellor. This group explores coping strategies and resilience skills.
- ‘Resin Art’ Workshop, 1-3pm, Carers Support Hub. This is a fantastic opportunity to come along and support one of our very own carers with her side venture. Resin art is for creating certain objects where technique is used to create a wide range of effects.
- Cwtch (monthly event), 6.30-8pm, Carers Support Hub. Carers Cwtch is our monthly evening group for carers to meet up, enjoy time out, and experience fun. We host quizzes, games, and other means of entertainment.
Wednesday, June 11
- Tai Chi Taster, 3-4pm, Carers Support Hub. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art and practice that combines slow, flowing movement with deep breathing and mediation. It is practiced for health benefits like improved balance, flexibility, and reduced stress. Carers will need to wear suitable, comfortable clothing for this session.
Thursday, June 12
- Scam Awareness & Prevention Workshop, 10.30am-12pm, Carers Support Hub. This workshop is facilitated by South Wales Police and will focus on educating participants on how to identify and avoid various scams, particularly those targeting more vulnerable groups in society. This will be followed by a light buffet served at noon.
- Detective for the Day, 1pm-3.30pm, Carers Support Hub. Continuing with our Police themed morning, why not enjoy a bit of fun with us in the afternoon in this interactive, entertaining murder mystery group game?
Friday, June 13
- Carers Support Project Staff ‘Pop up’, 11am-4pm, Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Staff from the RCT Carers Support Project will be at the main entrance of Royal Glamorgan Hospital promoting the project, highlighting the importance of being recognised as a carer, and signposting to other support organisations and raising the profile of unpaid carers throughout RCT, the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board area, and Wales!
To book onto local events during the week, simply contact the Carers Support Project on 01443 281 463 or by emailing: CarersSupportProject@rctcbc.gov.uk
Posted on 09/06/2025