NEWS & EVENTS
The Government is proposing new rights for unpaid carers.
It needs to go further.
Cornwall Carers Service · 10th June 2026 · Carers Week 2026
3 Million
unpaid carers are balancing work and care in the UK
£37 Billion
estimated annual cost to the economy of carers leaving work
50%
of carers cannot take unpaid carer's leave because it is unpaid
1st September
consultation deadline, your response matters!
What has the Government announced?
On 9 June 2026, the Department for Business and Trade and the Department of Health and Social Care launched a formal public consultation on improving employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children. The consultation is open to carers, parents, employers and anyone with an interest in the issue, and it closes on 1 September 2026.
At the moment, employees in England, Wales and Scotland have a statutory right to up to five days of unpaid carer's leave per year under the Carer's Leave Act 2023, which came into force in April 2024. Research from Carers UK shows that half of carers cannot take that leave because it is unpaid. This consultation is the Government's opportunity to address that, and to go further.
What is being proposed?
The Government is consulting on a range of changes that could make a real difference to working carers. The proposals under consideration include:
Proposals on the table
Introducing paid carer's leave for the first time
A new right to return to work after a period of intensive caring, similar to existing protections for those on maternity leave
New guidance to help workers and employers better understand carers' workplace protections
Targeted measures for parents of seriously ill children, including Hugh's Law
These changes could give thousands of unpaid carers greater financial security and flexibility, and help more people stay in work while caring for someone they love.
What is Hugh's Law?
Hugh's Law is named in memory of Hugh Menai-Davis, who died aged six from cancer in 2021. His family, alongside their charity It's Never You, have campaigned for paid leave and financial support for parents in the immediate and prolonged aftermath of a child being diagnosed with a serious illness. The Government is now seeking views on this as part of the wider consultation.
Welcome progress, but not enough on its own
The launch of this consultation is a step in the right direction. Carers UK, Carers Trust and other national organisations have campaigned for years to see stronger rights for working carers, and the fact that paid carer's leave is now on the table is significant.
But a consultation is only the beginning. The Government has said it expects to publish a response and an implementation roadmap later in 2026 or early 2027. That means the decisions made now, shaped by responses from carers and families across the country, will determine what actually changes in law.
The more carers who respond, the stronger that case becomes. Your experience matters here.
What this means for carers in Cornwall
If you are an unpaid carer in Cornwall who is also in employment, or who has had to reduce your hours or leave a job because of your caring responsibilities, this consultation is directly relevant to you.
In a rural county like Cornwall, balancing work and care comes with its own pressures, longer distances, fewer flexible local employers, and limited access to replacement care at short notice. Stronger workplace rights would make a meaningful difference here.
Have your say
The Government wants to hear from carers, parents and employers. Your experience of balancing work and care is exactly what this consultation needs.
🗓️ Deadline: 1 September 2026
