Tag Archives: carers awareness

Carers Rights Day 2025 – “Know Your Rights, Use Your Rights”

By Matthew McKenzie – Volunteer of Carers UK

On this year’s Carers Rights Day 2025 (Thursday 20 November), the theme is “Know your rights, use your rights.”

If you care for someone, whether it’s a partner, parent, child or friend; you may be missing out on vital support simply because you didn’t realise you have rights as a carer.

In my new video I walk you through what those rights actually are, and how you can use them in practice.

In this video you’ll discover:

  • Why recognising yourself as a carer matters
  • Key rights every carer should know (from assessments to flexible working)
  • How to make use of those rights in your daily life
  • Where to go for help, guidance and support

Click the link, take two minutes, and empower yourself today.

Celebrating Carers UK Volunteers at St James’s Park – A Day to Remember

By Matthew McKenzie – Carers UK Volunteer and Ambassador

On Friday 6 June, I had the pleasure of joining Carers Uk and fellow Carers UK volunteers at a picnic in St James’s Park, London a brilliant afternoon full of connection, recognition, and shared purpose. The weather managed to hold “Thank Goodness!”

As a Carers UK volunteer and ambassador, it was great to see so many familiar faces and meet new ones, all united by a commitment to supporting unpaid carers across the UK. The picnic was a chance for us to unwind, share stories, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the park.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the volunteer awards recognising the time, energy, and dedication that so many of us give. It was humbling to stand alongside other passionate volunteers and celebrate each other’s contributions.

Volunteers’ Week is a vital opportunity to shine a light on the incredible work of volunteers across the country and to say thank you for the real difference they make every day.

Later in the day, we teamed up to distribute Carers UK membership resources around the area, helping to raise awareness and connect more carers to support. You can check the link below to find resources.

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/

If you are interested in volunteering at Carers UK, see the link below.

https://www.carersuk.org/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/

I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped organise the event and to those who brought food and drink. Moments like these remind us that we’re not alone in what we do as Carers – we’re part of a caring, committed community.

Looking forward to the next one!

How Unpaid Carers Can Lobby the Government for Change | Advocacy Tips & Strategies

Introduction

Hello everyone, it’s Matthew McKenzie here with another lecture aimed at unpaid carers. As you can see from the title, I’m in carer activist mode, which is basically what I am. And when I say carer, I’m talking about unpaid carers, those that care for someone living with a long-term illness. In this lecture, we will focus on effective ways for carers to lobby the government and create change.

To see the video lecture, see below.

Why Lobby Now?

Urgent Issues

You might be thinking, why am I making this sort of video now? The NHS is due to undergo significant changes, which will cause a lot of problems and challenges, especially for carers.

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