Carer Representatives Share Their Hopes — and Join the Call for a Legal Right to a Break

23rd July 2025

Carer Representatives from across Bristol and South Gloucestershire gathered to connect, reflect, and raise their voices as part of the national #GiveCarersABreak campaign led by Carers Trust.

Held in the Rowlings Room at Carers Support's base at the Vassall Centre in Fishponds, the event welcomed new Carer Reps and featured a special introduction to Lucy Giles, the interim CEO of Carers Support Centre. The highlight of the afternoon was a creative activity inspired by the “Protest from Home” initiative, where carers were invited to answer one powerful question: “What would you do with a real break?”

Their responses—ranging from simple wishes for rest to dreams of travel and reconnection—will be shared as part of a visual campaign to spotlight the urgent need for better respite support for unpaid carers.

The event was part of a wider effort to amplify carers’ voices and advocate for meaningful change. With over 6.5 million unpaid carers in the UK, the #GiveCarersABreak campaign calls on decision-makers to recognise the vital role carers play—and to ensure they have access to the breaks they desperately need.

Take Action: Support the Right to a Break

Our carer representatives were proud to take part in the Carers Trust campaign for a legal right to a break, which gained strong support from MPs and media. Their photos were streamed outside Parliament alongside many others, amplifying the voices of unpaid carers across the UK.

Carers Trust has now launched a petition calling on Westminster to give carers the legal right to a break.

Sign and share the petition here

This is a vital moment: the Government has asked Baroness Casey to lead an independent commission on adult social care reform, with recommendations expected in 2029.

Let’s make sure carers’ voices are heard. Please sign and share.

Find out more about Carers Voice