Carers Week 2026: Are you an unpaid carer?

Carers Week is from 8-14 June this year. This week is a national campaign that recognises the vital role unpaid carers play in our communities.

This year’s campaign is highlighting the impact that carer-friendly communities can have in making a real and lasting difference to the lives of carers everywhere. Carer-friendly communities ensure carers are recognised, understood, and valued.

Are you a carer?

If you look after someone who couldn’t manage without your help – whether it’s a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour – you are a carer. This could be due to illness, disability, mental health difficulties, or addiction.

Many people don’t see themselves as carers but recognising this can be the first step to getting support.

Support is available locally to help you look after your wellbeing, take breaks, understand your rights, access welfare rights information, and connect with other people who are in similar situations.

Learn more about what it means to be an unpaid carer on Midspace.

Local support in Midlothian

Caring can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging. You don’t have to cope alone. Carers Week is a chance to look into the support that’s there for you.

A good place to start is VOCAL Midlothian (Voices of Carers Across Lothian). Explore their website to view the variety of support available to carers. As part of VOCAL’s Caring Communities, there are now a number of groups running throughout Midlothian specifically for unpaid carers. 

Carers Week 2026 events

VOCAL Midlothian are offering a special workshop at Dynamic Earth for carers, to celebrate Carers Week 2026.

• Dynamic Earth Carers Week workshop – Wee Breaks
  Monday 8 June 11am to 3pm
  Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS

This Carers Week the theme is ‘Building Carer-Friendly Communities.’ Why not come along to one of VOCAL’s groups across Midlothian to meet your local caring community?

Health walk for carers

• Tuesday 9 June, 10:30am to 12pm
• Glencorse Centre, 4 Firth Road, Penicuik EH26 0QZ

Dalkeith Men’s Shed: Support group for male carers

• Unwind, chat and enjoy activities chosen and led by you and other carers
• Tuesday 9 June, 10am to 1pm
• Dalkeith Men’s Shed, One Dalkeith Community Hub, 21 Eskdaill Court, EH22 1AG

Art for Life: Art group for carers

• Run by your local art group, Dalkeith Arts, this informal supportive class is all about giving you a bit of time and support for yourself
• Tuesday 9 June 2:15 to 4:15pm
• Woodburn Community Hub, 10 Woodburn Road, Dalkeith, EH22 2AT

Bloom and Breathe: Community garden group for carers

• Bloom and Breathe is for carers to pause, connect and grow
• Wednesday 10 June, 11am to 1pm
• Newtongrange Community Garden, Main Street, Newtongrange, EH22 4PG (garden is next to Newtongrange Leisure Centre)

Parent Pause: Parent Carer Group

• Parent Pause is a relaxed, friendly drop-in space for parent carers to take a breather, have a chat, and enjoy a cuppa with others who understand
• Friday 12 June, 10 to 11:30am
• Glencorse Centre, 4 Firth Road, Penicuik EH26 0QZ

All groups are free. Please pop along! To find out more, visit vocal.org.uk/groups and click on ‘Midlothian Carer Community Fund groups.’

Explore carer training and peer support activities with VOCAL in Midlothian.