Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) unpaid carers

Key statistics

• 626,985 unpaid carers in the UK are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds
• 21% of Black, Asian and minority ethnic carers provide over 50 hours of unpaid care per week
• 32% of Black, Asian and minority ethnic carers reported that services in their local area did not meet their needs.

Key messages

• cultural stigma, language barriers and financial anxiety prevent some carers from identifying as carers or accessing support
• mainstream services often lack cultural competence, leading to exclusion and misunderstanding
• recommended practices include cultural competence training, community partnerships and co-design of resources
• case studies describe improved engagement through culturally tailored local council programmes.

Policy implications

• carer support services may need to embed cultural competence within routine provision
• partnerships with community organisations could improve identification and engagement
• co-production approaches may help ensure services reflect carers’ needs and experiences
• better monitoring of access and outcomes could support more equitable provision.

Gaps

• limited quantitative evidence on the impact of good practice approaches
• lack of evaluation on scalability of culturally tailored programmes
• limited evidence linking improved engagement to long-term outcomes for carers.

Commentary
This briefing highlights persistent inequities faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic carers in accessing social care support. Cultural, linguistic and systemic barriers contribute to exclusion from services intended to meet carers’ needs, despite high levels of caring intensity within these communities.

The recommended practices outlined offer practical steps towards more inclusive provision. Cultural competence training, community partnerships and co-produced resources reflect approaches that recognise diversity and lived experience.

However, the evidence base remains limited. While case studies provide useful insights, the lack of robust quantitative evaluation makes it difficult to assess whether these approaches reduce inequities at scale.

From a care equity perspective, addressing these gaps is essential. Without stronger evidence on effectiveness and outcomes, good practice risks remaining localised rather than driving system-wide change that ensures equitable access and support for all carers. 

Further reading 

• Carers UK (2022) The experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic carers during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic 

• Carers Trust (2023) Experiences of unpaid carers from Black and minority ethnic communities.