Carefree Campaign Highlights the Lifeline Respite Breaks Give Unpaid Carers

GPS, the Hogarth Studio, has partnered with Carefree, the award-winning tech charity dedicated to transforming unsold hotel rooms into vital breaks for unpaid carers, to create five powerful films that highlight the lifeline respite breaks provide unpaid carers.

The films, set to be shared across social media platforms, showcase the profound positive effects that these breaks have on the physical and mental health of carers.

Carefree's innovative approach addresses the critical need for respite among the UK's estimated 5.7 million unpaid carers (9% of the population) – 68% of whom aren’t able to get a break when they need it (Carers Trust). By partnering with leading hotel chains, Carefree has already enabled more than 10,000 carers to take much-needed breaks, with plans to expand this support to over 20,000 carers by 2025.

The films feature real-life stories from carers, who have benefited from Carefree's digital solution. They highlight the debilitating financial and mental health costs on the unpaid carer of looking after a loved one. But they also reveal the rejuvenating impact of these breaks, offering carers a chance to unwind and recharge, ultimately enhancing their ability to continue their vital caregiving roles.

88% of carers say they couldn’t take a break without Carefree. 78% hadn’t a had a break for more than a year; 38% for more than three years.

The five short films focus on:

• Alison, 60, from London – she cares for her son, who has serious mental health issues
• Casey, 24, from Nottingham – he cares for his ill mother and elder brother who has severe learning difficulties
• Kauser, 62, from Leeds – she cares for her two brothers with learning difficulties, challenging behaviour, epilepsy & elements of autism
• Michael, 78, from Bolton, Lancashire – he cares for his wife who has MS
• Seirian, 42, from Sheffield - she cares for her son, who has Downs Syndrome

GPS handed all elements of post-production including editing, colour, VFX, MGFX and Audio.

Ruth Hegarty, Editor at GPS, said, “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Jason Smith and Carefree on these films. This is such an important campaign, and we wanted to consider each story being told. Our aim was to illustrate how isolating the experience of being a carer can be. We made sure that the central premise of each film was the voice of the carer, which cuts through the music and effects to highlight their story. I really hope that these films are widely seen as it is such a compelling cause.”

Charlotte Newman, CEO of Carefree, said, “The launch of our emotive case studies is just one step towards raising awareness and inspiring more people to join this vital cause. As we look ahead, we're committed to expanding our reach and developing new ways to support carers' wellbeing.”

“The social care system has faced huge challenges and families are often left unsupported with little choice but to put on hold other areas of their life to provide care for their loved ones. Without their commitment, the system would crash.”

Charlie Ricketts, chair of trustees for the charity, said, “The future of carer support lies in harnessing the power of technology and community collaboration to create sustainable, scalable solutions. At Carefree, we've seen first hand how innovative approaches can transform unused resources into life-changing experiences for unpaid carers. Our vision is to build a nationwide network where hotel owners and groups, charities, and individuals work together seamlessly to ensure every full-time carer has access to regular breaks. By leveraging technology and partnerships, we can create a caring economy that recognises and supports these unsung heroes of our healthcare system.”

Research reveals that unpaid carers in England and Wales contribute around £162bn per year to the economy - almost equivalent to a second NHS.