Our new report presents findings from comprehensive research into the experiences of unpaid carers in Bristol.
Published 23 September 2025
This report, authored by Siobhan Canavan for Bristol Women’s Voice and the Value the Caring Economy Alliance, presents findings from comprehensive research into the experiences of unpaid carers in Bristol. The study engaged more than 250 women through a survey, ten lantern workshops, six in-depth interviews, and one focus group to understand the challenges faced by those caring for children, elderly relatives, and Disabled family members.
Key Findings:
- Financial Hardship: Carers face severe financial pressures due to inadequate support structures, benefit cuts, and the inability to maintain full-time employment. Many struggle with costs of specialist care, equipment, and basic living expenses while supporting vulnerable family members.
- Employment Challenges: Carers encounter significant barriers in the workplace, including inflexible working arrangements, unsupportive employers, and limited career progression opportunities. This particularly affects women, who are seven times more likely than men to become economically inactive due to caring responsibilities, resulting in reduced pension contributions and long-term financial insecurity.
- Childcare Access: Parents, especially those with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), face limited access to affordable, high-quality early years provision. This forces many to abandon employment or career advancement, creating a cycle of economic disadvantage.
- Lack of Breaks: Carers report feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, with minimal access to regular breaks, emergency breaks, or mental health support. The absence of short-term and longer-term relief options leaves carers without essential recovery time.
- Social Isolation: Only 27.8% of unpaid carers in Bristol report having adequate social contact, representing a significant decline from 46.2% in 2012/13. This isolation is particularly acute among Asian/Asian British carers, contributing to deteriorating mental health.
- Healthcare Barriers: Both carers and those they support face difficulties accessing timely healthcare appointments. Carers often sacrifice their own health needs, with 44% delaying treatment due to caring responsibilities.
- Discontinuity of Support: Long-term carers experience fragmented support systems, particularly during transitions from children’s to adult services. High staff turnover (31% in Bristol’s adult social care) creates instability and forces carers to repeatedly explain their situations to new professionals.
- Legal and Advocacy Support: Carers struggle to navigate complex legal, welfare, and healthcare systems without adequate advocacy support. Access to legal advice remains limited, with 70% of the UK population lacking access to community care legal aid providers.
The full report presents tangible recommendations across key statutory sectors and employers.
