Our Year of Change: What 2025 Meant for Unpaid Carers Across South Asia

2025 was a year of movement for unpaid carers in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Every day, unpaid carers look after family members or friends who are ill or disabled. They do this quietly, often without rest, and usually without recognition. Our work across the year, in partnership with our local charity partners, had real impact on the lives of the carers we support and their families. In this blog post we pull out some of the highlights of our 2025 Impact Report.

Read the full 2025 Impact Report

What We Achieved Together

Across our programmes, thousands of unpaid carers found support, community and new opportunities.

• 5,106 new carers supported
• 321 new Carers Groups formed, giving carers a place to meet, talk and share strength.
• 23,574 carers attending group meetings, building friendships and finding support and advice.
• 66 health camps held, treating physical and mental health conditions.
• 964 carers trained in new livelihoods, and earning their own income.
• £394,605 now available in revolving funds, allowing carers to take out microloans to start their own businesses.
• 893 carers benefiting from alternative care arrangements, giving them precious time to rest or work.
• £4,072,736 worth of government support accessed by carers and family members.
• 43,600 carers in India now claiming the newly introduced Carers Allowance, a major step forward for recognition.

These numbers are big, but the change behind them is simple: more unpaid family carers getting the support they’ve always deserved.

Why This Work Matters

In many parts of South Asia, caring is seen as something you simply ‘must do.’ Because of this, carers often hide their own exhaustion or pain. Families facing disability or mental illness may also face stigma - neighbours whisper, relatives blame, and support disappears.

One carer in Bangladesh said something that stayed with us:

“We unpaid carers also feel the need for care and love.”

This is at the heart of our work. Carers deserve respect, rest and a chance to build a life beyond constant responsibility.

Kohinoor’s Story: Finding Strength in Community

Kohinoor lives in Dhaka, Bangladehs, and cares for her daughter, Farea, who has autism. For years, she carried the weight alone. Relatives blamed her. She had no guidance and no break.

Everything changed when she joined a Carers Group run by local charity partner, Centre for Disability in Development (CDD). She found people who understood her. She learned new ways to support Farea. She even became the president of her group.

At a health camp, she finally received treatment for her own back pain. Later, through our livelihood training she learned how to raise hens. She started with five. Soon she had twelve and was selling eggs.

Kohinoor now speaks up for carers across her community. Her confidence is unmistakable.

Carers Raising Their Voices

This year, carers stepped forward in powerful ways.

For the UN International Day of Care and Support, Carers Associations organised events across India and Bangladesh, many for the first time. In Savar, Bangladesh, the event made national news. In Bengaluru, India, 20 organisations partnered with the government to celebrate unpaid carers publicly.

“On Carers Day we are being honoured and respected, so I am happy.”

– Mukta, Bangladesh

In the state of Karnataka, India, the Carers Allowance was expanded to cover more disability categories. This marks another major step forward in the recognition and support of unpaid family carers in India.

“This support is helping me manage my daughter’s hospital expenses, food, and even my personal expenses. I am also thinking of saving a small amount in my daughter’s name.”

– Sunanda, India

In parts of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, 200 unpaid carers received Carers ID Cards that give them priority access at hospitals.

“My Carers ID Card is not just a card. It is the identity of my new life. Within my family and society, I was without recognition. Now, my value and recognition within my family have increased."

– Salma, Bangladesh

Recognition is growing. Unpaid carers are being seen.

A Message From Our Founder

Our founder, Anil Patil, reflected on the year with pride. We reached over 29,000 new people in 2025 alone, contributing to a total reach of over 279,000 people since we started in 2012. We strengthened partnerships, expanded training, and supported carers to advocate for themselves.

He shared one message that captures the year:

Real change happens when those who care are no longer invisible but become the architects of the systems that shape their lives.

Find Out More

Read our full 2025 Impact Report here.

Thank you to all our supporters - your belief and commitment make this work possible.

If you’d like to stand with unpaid carers too, find out how you can get involved or give a gift, to help us continue making this impact for unpaid carers in low- and middle-income countries.