Welcome to the Care Hub: caregiving, unpaid care, and the care deficit

Welcome to the Care Hub: caregiving, unpaid care, and the care deficit

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I've just started building this page.

Check back in a week or so and there will be a decent amount of information relating to unpaid carers, caregiving, and the deficit in caring that is holding humanity back.

https://www.cobbsblog.com/2026/09/help-for-working-unpaid-care-givers.html

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7506009337757130752/

UK Care-Focused Activity, 2026

Here's a round-up of key reports, policy updates, and strategic frameworks focusing on unpaid carers and young carers in the UK social care landscape.

1. Government Policy & National Strategy

A. Unpaid Carers Action Plan: Recognise, Refer, Reach (Published July 2026 by the Department of Health and Social Care)

Overview: A landmark cross-government strategy designed to overhaul support systems for the millions of unpaid carers in England.

Key Focus: The plan contains 42 practical action points spanning health, social care, education, and employment. It centres heavily on early identification (recognition) and streamlining pathways so that carers are systematically referred to localized support networks before reaching a point of crisis.

B. Survey of Adult Carers in England (SACE): 2025–2026 Report (Published July 2026 by NHS England / GOV.UK)

Overview: The official statistical release capturing feedback and lived experiences from unpaid carers aged 18 and over who support an adult receiving social care.

Key Focus: Provides vital metrics on the quality of life, personal well-being, and social isolation experienced by carers trying to balance a stable life alongside intense caring duties.

2. Sector Research & Advocacy Reports

A. Building Carer Friendly Communities – A Blueprint (Released June 2026 by Carers UK)

Overview: Launched during Carers Week, this blueprint outlines a community-centric vision for strengthening local infrastructure.

Key Focus: Moves beyond national policy to look at how local authorities, businesses, health services, and community groups can better integrate support structures to protect the health and financial resilience of unpaid carers.

B. State of Caring 2025 & 2026 Surveys (Carers UK)

Overview: Widely recognized as the UK’s most comprehensive regular research into the lives of unpaid carers, compiling data from over 10,500 respondents.

Key Focus: The reports investigate "the cost of caring," examining the profound financial strains, soaring household expenses, and pressures on physical and mental health. (The 2026 survey findings build directly on the baseline data established heading into the new policy implementations).

3. Young Carers and Educational Impact

A. Carers Trust Education and Inquiry Reports (Early 2026 / Young Carers Action Day context)

Overview: Recent investigations led by the Carers Trust highlighting the acute pressures faced by children and young adults (ages under 18 and 18–25) juggling education with care responsibilities.

Key Findings: Highlighted that roughly 49% of young and young adult carers report missing out on education, training, or career development opportunities due to the demands of their caring roles—underscoring a critical policy blind spot regarding school censuses and localized identification.