New Initiative Launches to Give West Yorkshire’s Unpaid Carers a Well-Deserved Break

The Caring Kind Project. A bold new initiative supporting West Yorkshire’s unpaid carers officially launches this month.

The Caring Kind Project offers carers the chance to take a well-deserved break – breaks that have been gifted by businesses from the hospitality, leisure, tourism, and culture sectors across the region.

Unpaid carers are family members, friends, and neighbours who look after someone due to illness, disability, or age – providing an essential service to the UK. Their care is estimated to save the economy £162 billion annually, and yet, 4 in 10 unpaid carers live in poverty. In West Yorkshire, there are 400,000 known unpaid carers, and many report burnout, isolation, and mental and physical exhaustion.

“Burnout is a real and profound issue for unpaid carers,” says Claire Turner, Chief Executive of Carers Leeds. “We know that caring can have a negative impact on carers health and wellbeing and that carers often put their own needs second to the person they are caring for. Being able to take a break from caring is so important, and this project aims to help carers do just that.”

A Simple Gift: A Break.

The Caring Kind Project is building a community of local businesses — from hotels to hairdressers, cafés to cultural venues — whose generosity directly improves the well-being of unpaid carers.

Whether it’s a weekend away or just coffee and cake with a friend, The Caring Kind Project gives them the confidence to step away, to catch their breath, and return to their responsibilities with renewed energy and a fresh perspective.

Local Giving. Local Impact.

Businesses are invited to join the project as Giving Partners, donating breaks, experiences, or services. For those outside the hospitality sector, there’s also the option to fund a break, helping to purchase breaks and experiences from independent, local businesses that want to support but simply can’t.

“There are few charitable causes where the support is so direct,” says Gemma Povey, Project Manager. “Giving Partners see the benefit of their gift on the faces of the people in front of them – it’s so personal. We really are building a caring community.”

Credible and Proven

The project is managed by Carers Leeds, a charity with over 30 years of experience supporting unpaid carers. Its model is inspired by the hugely successful Respitality programme in Scotland, which has been matching carers with donated breaks for over a decade.

Get Involved

The Caring Kind Project is now seeking business partners, sponsors, and community supporters to join the community.

To learn more, offer support, or fund a break, visit their website: thecaringkindproject.org.uk

Alternatively, you can email hello@thecaringkindproject.org.uk