Carers Week 2026: Building Carer Friendly Communities in Edinburgh
07 May 2026
From 8–14 June 2026, Carers Week 2026 is shining a spotlight on the importance of “Building Carer Friendly Communities.”
Across Edinburgh, thousands of unpaid carers provide essential support every day to family members, partners, friends, and neighbours who could not manage without them. Caring can be rewarding, but it can also affect mental health, relationships, finances, work, and wellbeing. That’s why creating communities where carers feel recognised, supported, and connected matters so much.
At iThrive, we know carers also need support for themselves. Whether you’re looking for practical advice, emotional support, or ways to protect your own wellbeing while caring for someone else, there are resources and services available to help.
Support and self-help resources for carers
Our self-help section offers guides and resources to support carers with the many challenges that can come alongside caring responsibilities. Whether you’re looking for practical advice, emotional support, or ways to protect your own wellbeing, there is help available.
Our Carers guide includes information and advice to help carers look after their mental health and wellbeing, understand the support available to them, and feel less alone in their caring role.
Looking after someone else can sometimes make it difficult to prioritise your own needs. Our Boundaries resource explores how setting healthy boundaries can help protect your wellbeing, maintain relationships, and reduce feelings of burnout.
Our Families resource offers advice and support around family relationships, communication, and navigating difficult situations together.
Many carers support someone experiencing mental health challenges. Our How to talk about mental health guide can help you start conversations and feel more confident discussing mental health.
Caring can also sometimes feel isolating. Our Loneliness resource shares support, advice, and practical ideas to help carers stay connected and reduce feelings of isolation.
Stories from carers and staff supporting carers
Hearing from people with lived experience can help carers feel seen, understood, and connected.
Read reflections and insights from people working closely with carers and communities across Scotland:
Finding local support in Edinburgh
No carer should feel they have to manage alone. The iThrive directory includes a wide range of organisations, groups, and services across Edinburgh that support carers in different ways — from emotional support and peer groups to practical advice and specialist services.
Whether you’re new to caring or have been supporting someone for years, reaching out for support can make a real difference.
Building carer friendly communities together
This year’s Carers Week 2026 theme reminds us that supporting carers is everyone’s responsibility. Communities become more carer friendly when carers are listened to, included, and able to access the support they need without judgement.
Small actions can make a difference — checking in on someone with caring responsibilities, helping carers stay connected to their community, or making workplaces and services more flexible and understanding.
If you’re an unpaid carer in Edinburgh, iThrive is here to help you find information, support, and local services that can support your wellbeing while you continue supporting others.