Carers UK is re-launching its successful Carers Active project to encourage carers – who often struggle to prioritise their own health – to be active.

There are 4.7 million unpaid carers in England looking after someone who is ill, elderly or disabled. Seventy six per cent of carers aged over 55 do not feel they are able to do as much physical activity as they’d like to do, even though they acknowledge that being physically active has a number of benefits, including increasing their feelings of self-worth and happiness and reducing loneliness.

Supported by Sport England funding of £362,184 for three years, the Carers Active project plans to build on Carers UK's connections with professionals in the sport, leisure, health and care sectors and facilitate local partnerships to increase the number of opportunities for carers to join activities.

Carers UK will also run campaigns and challenge events, promoting activities that are accessible, low-cost and can be embedded into the everyday lives of carers to inspire increased participation.

Emily Holzhausen CBE, director of policy and public affairs, says: “If you’re caring for someone, you’re more likely to be in poor health. Forty three per cent of current or former carers have had a mental or physical health condition develop or become worse since taking on caring responsibilities.

“Getting active can be a powerful antidote to this. In our State of Caring survey 52 per cent of carers taking part in a physical activity told us that this reduces stress and anxiety, but often, time constraints, tiredness and affordability can get in the way.

“We’re delighted to have secured funding from Sport England for another three years because we want to see an increase in accessible activities designed with carers in mind. We’re excited to see the re-launch of this important project giving carers much-needed opportunities to improve their health and meet others in their communities.”

Previous funding for the project enabled Carers UK among other things to create the Carers Active Hub, a dedicated resource with exercise videos, activity ideas and carer stories used by over 8,000 carers per year. A further 461 carers attended online activity sessions.