International Women’s Day: Celebrating and supporting Sutton’s unpaid women Carers

This International Women’s Day, we recognise the extraordinary contribution of unpaid Carers, most of whom are women, whose invisible labour underpins the UK’s health and social care system.

Across the UK, the story is clear: women shoulder the majority of unpaid caring responsibilities, and the pressures they face are growing. Carers UK’s national evidence highlights the scale of the challenge, and the urgent need for greater recognition and support.

Women are the caring majority

Census 2021 data reported by Carers UK shows that women continue to bear a disproportionate caring load across the country, for example:

• Women aged 75–79 are the most likely to provide 50+ hours of unpaid care per week, often supporting partners with significant health or mobility needs.

• The largest proportion of unpaid Carers in England and Wales are women aged 55–59, a time when many are also juggling work, grandchildren, and their own health concerns.

  
  

These national trends echo what we see in Sutton: women routinely stepping in as the backbone of family care.

The emotional & physical toll on women Carers

Caring is an act of love—but it can also be exhausting and isolating. Carers UK reports that:

• Three‑quarters of unpaid Carers experience stress or anxiety, and

• 40% report their physical health has worsened due to their caring role.

• Locally, many women tell us they feel stretched thin - balancing employment, childcare, elder care, jobs and household responsibilities with little time left for themselves. The emotional strain can be profound, especially for those providing high‑intensity care or caring alone.

  
  

The hidden financial cost for women

Financial inequalities are sharply felt by women Carers. According to Carers UK:

• 1.2 million unpaid Carers in the UK live in poverty.

• Nearly half are cutting back on essentials such as heating, food and transport to manage the financial strain of caring.

  
  

Women are also more likely to reduce working hours or leave employment entirely: Carers UK confirms that 2.6 million people have left work to care, with women disproportionately affected.

This creates long-term financial consequences: lower income, fewer savings, and reduced pensions; deepening gender inequality well into later life.

How Sutton Carers Centre supports women Carers

As Sutton’s dedicated Carers Support Service, we work to ensure no unpaid carer feels they are carrying the load alone. Our services include:

• Emotional and wellbeing support, including 1-2-1 and peer groups

• Practical advice, including benefits guidance and access to Carer’s Assessments

• Support for working carers, helping women balance employment and caring responsibilities and offering volunteering opportunities

• Young Carers services, recognising that caring roles begin early, often for girls and young women and also by supporting YCs in the household ensures the pressures are reduced for the main Carer

• Outreach across Sutton, working with local partners such as health services, schools, Age UK Sutton, Sutton Mental Health Foundation, and many more

  
  

And as a Network Partner of Carers Trust, we are part of a national movement championing Carers’ rights, amplifying women’s experiences, and campaigning for systemic change.

International Women’s Day : A call for equality for women Carers

International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that gender equality cannot be achieved without recognising and supporting unpaid Carers. Women should not have to sacrifice their income, health, wellbeing, or future in order to care.

At Sutton Carers Centre, we believe:

• Women Carers deserve recognition

• They deserve equitable financial and emotional support

• They deserve Carer‑friendly workplaces and flexible employment

• They deserve a care system that does not rely on their unpaid labour

The contribution of women Carers is immense—but it should never be invisible.

Together, we can do more

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the extraordinary women who care—quietly, fiercely, and tirelessly, every single day.

If you are an unpaid Carer in Sutton, or you know someone who is:

Sutton Carers Centre is here for you. You are not alone. Your care matters. And so do you.