Unpaid carers like Susan and Gabrielle have described our short breaks as an "absolute lifeline."

The BBC is sharing their stories, highlighting why rest is essential for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

Susan (74) cares full-time for her 103-year-old mother. Thanks to one of our breaks, she recently spent two nights in a hotel in Islington with her daughter. For her, it was a chance to "sleep, read, and not watch the clock." She returned feeling reinvigorated, with new stories and photos to share with her mum.

Gabrielle, who cares for her seven-year-old son Arlo, knows firsthand the exhaustion of full-time caring. Arlo, who is autistic and non-verbal, requires round-the-clock attention, leaving Gabrielle and her partner Charlie with little time for themselves. Just before Christmas, they took one of our breaks at Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, where they were able to "walk, hold hands, go for a meal, and just chat" - something they hadn’t done in years.

Carer exhaustion and burnout are real - rest should be too. Carefree partners with UK hotels and guesthouses to turn vacant rooms into short breaks for millions of unpaid carers. Thank you to Axiom Hospitality and all our hotel partners - the phenomenal Carefree Breakmakers - for making these moments of much-needed rest possible.

Read the full BBC article here: https://caref.re/3FPBKhL

Chanel had been tirelessly dedicating her days and nights to the care of her young family, which includes two children on the autism spectrum. The round-the-clock demands, heightened by her 13-year-old's high needs, left her little opportunity to catch her breath, let alone enjoy moments of solitude or relaxation. Unwavering in her commitment, Chanel embodied the strength and love that carers often do, but the toll on her own health and mental well-being was increasingly evident.

She then found out about Carefree and the help we offer to unpaid carers, by helping them get a short break from their responsibilities. We understand how hard it can be to care for others all the time, so we were really happy to give Chanel a little break.

During her hotel stay, Chanel experienced the rare luxury of uninterrupted sleep, reigniting a sense of restfulness that had long been absent. She had the freedom to explore, to shop at her own pace, to simply be without the constant pull of responsibility.

This gift of time allowed her to engage with the world in ways she hadn't in years, providing a profound mental and emotional reset.

The effects of Chanel's respite extended beyond the break itself. She returned home not only feeling recharged but also equipped with a rejuvenated patience and a positive mood that permeated her home. Her children benefited from a happier, healthier mother—a ripple effect that enhanced the quality of care she provided.

By sharing Chanel's experience, we aim to highlight the critical importance of carer support. We're driven to create these pockets of peace for more carers, to acknowledge their silent sacrifices, and to remind them that they too are deserving of care. Our partnership with hotels to turn unused rooms into havens of rest. As Chanel's story vividly illustrates, a short break can be transformative, and we invite others to join us in this endeavour. Together, we can ensure that carers receive the respite they need to continue their vital roles in the lives of those they look after.

As we celebrate the milestone of delivering 6000 carer breaks, we are excited to share Estelle’s story, a testament to the profound impact that a well-deserved break can have on the lives of unpaid carers.

Being a full-time carer to a child with autism presents challenges that not everyone can comprehend. Estelle's son, a beautiful 6-year-old, is non-verbal and requires assistance with basic tasks. This makes Estelle's role as his caregiver a 24/7 job. Despite the fatigue, she consistently meets this challenge, tirelessly ensuring the well-being of her son every day.

At Carefree, we took on the mission to ensure carers get a much-deserved break. Our approach converts unsold hotel rooms into short breaks for unpaid carers like Estelle. Carefree partners with hotels that donate their unsold inventory, transforming what could be a loss for the hotels into significant social value.

For Estelle, Dunston Hall holds special significance. It is the place where she celebrated her marriage in 2016. The memories of that joyful occasion lived on, making Dunston Hall a sentimental destination for her.

Our collaboration with hotels not only provides physical respite but also contributes to the overall well-being of caregivers. Through these initiatives, Carefree continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of unpaid carers, ensuring they get the breaks they so deserve.

The time off from her caring responsibilities provided Estelle with the chance to recharge and reconnect with her friend. The impact of Carefree's model extends beyond the individual carer, fostering a community of support and understanding.

With heartfelt appreciation,

The Carefree Team

We've delved into our sock drawers to unearth our favourite, most whimsical pairs (or mismatched duos), as we gear up to celebrate this year’s World Down Syndrome Day (#WDSD) — observed on the 21st day of the third month. It's a day when individuals and organisations worldwide rally to spotlight the talents, potential, and uniqueness of people with trisomy of the 21st chromosome, commonly known as Down syndrome. This year, kick-start the conversation from the ground up with the #LotsOfSocks campaign. So, if you haven’t already, we urge you to don your most eccentric foot attire. When people ask or remark about them, let them know it's all about drawing attention to inclusion, empowerment, and equality for people with Down syndrome. 🌍🎉

Beyond sporting socks, we're also championing this year’s WDSD theme: “End the Stereotype”. Individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities often describe stereotypes as the root of discrimination. They report that false assumptions about their capabilities — to complete tasks, participate in activities, and speak for themselves — regularly lead to them being treated like children, underestimated, and excluded. On WDSD, we encourage you to visit the campaign’s website https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/

There, you’ll discover firsthand accounts and videos, shedding light on experiences of discrimination. You’ll also hear people with Down syndrome’s resounding call to be treated as unique individuals, with access to education and employment opportunities, just like everyone else.

Down syndrome affects one in 800 babies, each a unique individual, and typically entails varying degrees of intellectual and physical disability, along with associated medical issues, necessitating special care needs in many cases.

At Carefree, we're honoured to offer short opportunities for respite for unpaid carers of children and family members with Down syndrome.

One such carer is Sei, who recently took a break booked through us at the Village Hotel Liverpool. Sei's son has Down syndrome. Asked what it is like to parent a child with Down syndrome, she smiles, “Well, we live a pretty typical, chaotic and busy family life like most; Maybe with a bit more singing and dancing than average but that's more to do with me than J [my son]!” However, she says, where J does struggle is with sleep, which means that Sei and other family members too struggle to get enough rest.

“My son is mostly a delight, but his inability to sleep makes the easiest things seem impossible. I wouldn't change my son, but I would like him to sleep better. That's why getting a proper break, away from home, is vital. Not just for myself as a parent, but for my other child too. We can have some time to relax together, sleep without being woken, and do the things we want without having to think about anything else,” Sei explains. 😴💕

On this WDSD, we raise our socks to Sei’s son and all the incredible members of our community with Down syndrome and their ongoing efforts to advocate for their right to equality. We also acknowledge all the remarkable parents, family members, friends, and organisations striving daily to build the support systems necessary to ensure everyone's inclusion and empowerment in society. We wish you all a happy #WorldDownSyndromeDay and we look forward to helping many of you book a Carefree break soon. 🧦🌟

At Carefree, we've just sailed past a significant milestone: we have delivered 7,000 breaks to unpaid carers through our platform! This number represents countless moments of respite, rejuvenation, and support for individuals presently dedicating their lives to caring for others.

For the Carefree team, it also represented the perfect excuse for a celebratory meal, during which we raised our glasses to all the incredible people who have made the delivery of 7,000 breaks possible. We also toasted all the remarkable carers who have benefited from a Carefree break, and those who will do so in the future.

As we reflect on all we've achieved so far, we take this moment to applaud the unwavering commitment of our community and hospitality partners. Each break delivered is a testament to your commitment to social impact and the power of our collective effort to make that impact a reality.

One of our carers, Holly, shared her experience after staying at Village Swindon: "I am so unbelievably grateful to be connected to this fantastic organisation. Thank you, Carefree, you are truly amazing!" Holly's words encapsulate the profound impact that these breaks can have on carers' lives, offering moments of respite, rejuvenation, and connection away from their caregiving responsibilities.

As we celebrate this milestone, we are reminded of the importance of our mission: to provide unpaid carers with the support and recognition they deserve. We believe that every carer deserves the opportunity to prioritise their own well-being and self-care, and our breaks are just one way to make that possible.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey. Here's to the next 7,000 breaks and beyond!

20,000! That’s the number of unpaid carers now registered to access short breaks through Carefree's Carers Space!

We’re thrilled to pass this milestone and both excited and determined to keep growing our community of carers and community and hospitality partners.

Together we can realize a world in which all unpaid carers have access to a getaway — a chance to relax, recharge, and refocus away from their caring duties. Time and again, carers who take a break with us testify to the profound impact a few days away has on their wellbeing and ability to continue meeting their caring duties.

“It's a very needed charity, and I hope you realize how valuable it is to carers. Without this, some people have no breaks. Nothing to look forward to. Seriously, thank you! It does make such a difference … Like a breath of fresh air …,” says Andrew, an unpaid carer who took a short break at The Talbot Ripley Hotel.

One in five people in the UK is presently providing unpaid care or support*, and many more have provided unpaid care in the past or will in the future. Many of us were, are, or will be unpaid carers at some point. Carefree is here, alongside our hospitality partners, to ensure carers’ need for downtime doesn’t go unmet.

How you can get involved:

If you are an unpaid carer, here’s how you can gain access to our Breaks Hub and start thinking about how you’d like to spend your short holiday.

If you know an unpaid carer who’d love a break, share our details with them.

If you are an organization providing support to carers in your community, here’s how you can register with us to refer carers to our platform.

And if you're an accommodation provider interested in joining us in this meaningful endeavor, we’d love to hear from you. You can contact us here.

We can’t wait to announce that Carefree has 25,000, 30,000 … 1 million registered carers and beyond!

An enlightening piece by our CEO, Charlotte Newman, highlighting the financial intricacies within the social care sector. This article advocates for tailored financial solutions to unlock the growth potential of social care organisations. As we march towards a brighter care future in the UK, embracing innovative social investment strategies is key.

The Carefree team picked up the award for Best Technology Project with our partners, Impala, at the travel industry's Travolution Awards on 24 Nov.

We have hundreds of amazing overnight stays available for unpaid carers this summer.

If you know an unpaid carer - a friend, a family member, or a colleague, please let them know about us!

You can signpost them to our website or share the link below directly.

Thank you!

The Skift IDEA Awards is travel’s annual recognition of excellence in design, creativity, and innovation - honouring the brands and businesses pioneering the industry’s future.