Carers Week 2026
8 June - 14 June
A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction, or who needs extra help as they grow older. It isn’t someone who volunteers or is employed to provide support.
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to provide support for carers, run activities, highlight the vital role carers play in our communities and draw attention to just how important caring is. This year it will run from the 8th to the 14th June.
Headway UK knows that caring for someone can be very challenging and wants carers to know that their individual worth is recognised, very much valued and that they are not alone.
As it has done for the past couple of years Headway UK will be running a Carers Week poetry competition to highlight the invaluable contributions of carers across the UK. People with an acquired brain injury are invited to write a poem, haiku or ditty that demonstrates their appreciation of their carers, whilst celebrating the positive impact that they have on their life. Alternatively, the entry can be from a carer creating a poem from their perspective too.
There will be a first, second and third prize and the winners will feature in the Headway News magazine summer edition as well as on the Headway website.
During Carers Week in June Headway UK will feature some of the poems on social media, so videos of individuals performing their poems are welcome too, if they’re happy to share.
If poetry isn’t your thing, Headway are also collecting quotes from people with an acquired brain injury about their carers. Some of these will feature in the summer edition of Headway News, as well as featuring on our website and social media during Carers Week.
The closing date for the competition is Sunday 3rd May 2026. If you wish to enter this competition please let the Secretary know in plenty of time
