Carers UK is here to make life better for the 5.8 million carers across the UK. ;xNLx;;xNLx;Our story began in the 1960s with the very first campaigns to raise awareness of the challenges carers face. Our journey to where we are today has been filled with landmark moments, significant steps forward and a huge amount of commitment, passion and drive from the hundreds of people who have helped us on our way. ;xNLx;;xNLx;This timeline is our way of sharing just some of those moments with you. As you explore our history, please be aware that some of the content is from our archive. This means it may contain references or terminology that we would no longer consider appropriate for use today. ;xNLx;
The 1960s sees the start of the carers movement, thanks to some key individuals who began to speak out on behalf of the thousands of previously unrecognised carers across England.
Having given up work in 1954 to care for her elderly parents, Mary Webster faced unpaid caregiving, lost income, and reduced freedom like many other women. After her parents died in 1963, she began campaigning to raise awareness of the challenges faced by unmarried daughters who sacrificed their careers to care for ageing parents. A letter she wrote to the newspapers about the difficulties of working and caring for ageing parents thrust the issue into the national spotlight. “Mary Webster had brought a problem to light that was everyone’s problem, either yesterday, today or tomorrow” – Baroness Seear, founder member of the National Council for the Single Woman and Her Dependents.
Mary Webster established Carers UK, originally named the National Council for the Single Woman and her Dependants (NCSWD). This organisation marked the formal beginning of carers’ advocacy, focusing on supporting unmarried women caring for relatives. Webster’s vision paved the way for greater societal recognition of carers, who had long been overlooked despite their essential contributions.
The Dependent Relative Tax Allowance became the first legal recognition of carers' contributions, providing tax relief for individuals supporting dependent relatives. This policy acknowledged the financial burden of caregiving, offering monetary relief for the first time and setting a precedent for future legislation to support carers' unique financial challenges.
During the 1970s, the carers movement began to evolve, with additional financial support being introduced through allowances and benefits.
In 1971, the Attendance Allowance was introduced, offering financial support to people over 65 with significant care needs due to disabilities. By alleviating some of the costs associated with long-term care, this benefit provided indirect support to carers, particularly family members providing unpaid care, thus reducing their economic strain.
Published in 1974 and edited by Roxanne Arnold and Olive Chandler, the book Feminine Singular, shed light on the hidden struggles of women carers during this period, emphasising the societal expectation that women would care for relatives without external support. This publication played a crucial role in sparking discussions about the gendered nature of caregiving, fuelling early advocacy efforts to better support female carers.
The Invalid Care Allowance (now Carer’s Allowance) introduced in 1976 was the first benefit recognising the financial sacrifices of unpaid carers. By providing a direct payment to those caring for severely disabled individuals, it acknowledged the economic value of their work, elevating caregiving from a private duty to a societal responsibility.
The 1980s was a decade of recognition for carers, marked by landmark legal rulings and social change.
Judith Oliver founded the Association of Carers in 1981, emphasising a member-led approach to advocacy and support. This grassroots ethos inspired Carers UK’s continued emphasis on empowering carers to shape policies affecting them. Oliver’s work underscored the importance of giving carers a direct voice in addressing their needs and influencing change.
