During Carers Week 2026, we’re recognising how vital carers are and sharing the ways we can support you. This year’s theme, ‘Building Carer Friendly Communities’, is about creating spaces where carers are understood, supported and empowered to thrive.

You’re not alone

Every day, around 63 million people worldwide care for someone close to them (source: carersworldwide.org). In the UK, there are 5.8 million unpaid carers, over half of whom are also juggling care with paid work (source: carersuk.org).

Many people don’t recognise themselves in those numbers. They’re just doing what needs to be done. Caring responsibilities might begin with helping a parent after an illness, supporting a partner through a difficult time, or looking after a child with additional needs. It becomes part of everyday life, alongside work, study and everything else.

If you’re caring for someone, or think you might be, asking for support can feel like a big step. But it can also be the first step towards making things feel more manageable.

Are you eligible for carers support from Foothold?

If you or the person you care for has worked or trained in engineering or technology, we can offer you free wellbeing support and legal advice. And if you or the person you care for has ever been an IET member, you may be eligible for financial support from Foothold.

Even if you’re not currently working as an engineer, you may still be eligible if your work or study is linked to the sector. Visit our eligibility page to learn more.

Advice, information and financial support

Foothold has a long history of supporting carers in the engineering community. We know that everyone’s situation is different, so we can offer a range of support, including:

• Advice and guidance tailored to your situation
• Financial assistance (eligibility criteria apply)

Whether or not you qualify for our financial support, you can get legal advice via our free app. This includes information on managing someone else’s affairs or getting power of attorney.

Organisations like Carers UK also offer helpful factsheets and guidance to help you navigate everything from financial support to workplace rights.

The UK government is currently seeking views on the rights and support available to people with unpaid caring responsibilities. If you’d like to have your say, you can respond to the consultation at gov.uk.

Practical help for carers

Caring can come with day-to-day challenges that can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference.

We may be able to help you fund assessments or equipment to make care easier and safer. If you’re an engineering student or apprentice, we may be able to offer you support to help with your caring responsibilities.

Caring for yourself

Caring can bring physical, emotional and psychological challenges, and it’s important to have support in place for yourself too. When you’re focused on someone else’s needs, it’s easy to overlook your own. But you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Eligible carers can apply for counselling grants from Foothold, so you have someone to talk to when it matters most. We can also offer respite or holiday grants to give you a break to rest and recharge.

All carers get free access to our Wellbeing Hub. It contains expert advice and tools on managing your physical and mental health, including cognitive behavioural therapy modules.

We’re here when you need us

If you’d like to apply for carers support, fill in our application form to get started.

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How you can support carers in engineering

Our work is powered by donations from the engineering community. If you’d like to support engineers with care needs or caring responsibilities, find out how you can help here.