Insights, research and reports
Evidence-led insights which shape better outcomes for unpaid carers
Mobilise partners with councils, academics, and sector leaders to understand what works for unpaid carers, and share what we learn.
We also produce our own insights into the needs of carers based on the results of our Mobilise Moment surveys.
Unpaid care in the UK, by numbers
Every day, millions of people across the UK look after a loved one without pay. Here is what the latest national data tells us about who they are, and what their care is worth.
5m
Unpaid carers in the UK, Census 2021
Gender split of unpaid carers in England, Census 2021. In 2011, 59% of unpaid carers across the UK were women, Carers UK.
Unpaid carers save the UK economy an extraordinary amount every year - work that would otherwise fall to the state or the private care sector
Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for unpaid carers, but take-up sits well below the total number of carers nationally
956,448
People receiving Carer's Allowance across the UK.
DWP data, August 2022
1 in 5
Roughly the proportion of the UK's 5 million unpaid carers who were claiming Carer's Allowance at that time.
What Mobilise carers tell us...
67%
of unpaid carers feel disconnected from their community
(April 2026)
67%
of carers would use more digital tools with the right support or training
(June 2026)
67%
say the person they care for hides the reality of their condition at least sometimes (May 2026)