About Unpaid Carers Guide
Unpaid Carers Guide exists to make life a little clearer for people who care for family members, friends, or others in their lives – often without recognising themselves as carers, and often without enough support.
If you are an unpaid carer, aside from the physical and emotional support you provide, you are likely juggling a lot: appointments, forms, decisions, responsibilities, and worry. All while trying to get on with everyday life.
This site is here to help you understand your options, know what questions to ask, and feel more confident navigating support, using plain English and practical guidance.
What this site offers
Unpaid Carers Guide is focussed on Unpaid Carers in England and Wales (although a lot of the information will be relevant elsewhere, please check first) and provides:
- Clear explanations of what it means to be an unpaid carer
- Step-by-step guidance on things like carers’ assessments and support options
- Practical tips to help you prepare for conversations and decisions
- Honest information about what support may (and may not) be available
- Resources designed to save you time and reduce stress
Everything is written to be easy to understand, as a carer you don’t have time to try to work out complicated social work or legal wording. I’ll do that for you.
Who writes Unpaid Carers Guide
The content on this site is written under the pen name Simon Newson, often signing off simply as Si.
Simon is a pseudonym used by someone with personal experience as an unpaid carer and professional experience supporting unpaid carers and working within carer support services. The pen name allows the site to remain independent and focused on providing general guidance, rather than individual casework.
The aim is not to tell you what to do, but to help you understand:
- how systems work,
- what carers are commonly entitled to,
- and how to approach processes with more confidence.
What this site is (and isn’t)
Unpaid Carers Guide is:
- An independent information resource
- Focused on general guidance, not personalised advice
- Written to support carers across the UK
- Designed to complement, not replace, specialist support
It is not:
- A statutory service
- A legal or medical advice service
- Affiliated with any local authority, NHS body, or organisation
Because carers’ rights and support can vary by area and individual circumstances, outcomes can never be guaranteed.
For advice specific to your situation, you should always speak to your local authority or a recognised carers organisation.
Why this site exists
Many carers miss out on support simply because:
- they don’t realise they are carers
- information is scattered or unclear
- processes feel intimidating or plain confusing
- they don’t know what questions to ask
This site exists to reduce those barriers — quietly, respectfully, and practically.
If something here helps you feel a bit more informed, prepared, or reassured, then it’s doing its job.
Getting in touch
If you’d like to get in touch, you can use the contact page.
Please note that Unpaid Carers Guide cannot provide individual or personalised advice, but feedback and suggestions for future guides are always welcome. I’d love to hear your stories, especially if this website has helped you in some way.
Caring is demanding work. You deserve clear information and support too.