Carers Week takes place from the 9th to the 15th of June, and this year’s theme is Caring About Equality.
The theme of Carers Week 2025 serves as a timely reminder of the importance of equality of access to healthcare, a key issue for carers balancing their caring responsibilities with their own careers.
At BAPAM, we recognise the vital role carers play in our communities, including those within the performing arts industry. We are here to support performing arts professionals across the UK with their health. We understand that juggling the demands of caring and freelancing can have a huge impact on performing arts professionals’ health and wellbeing.
In this article, we’re highlighting the challenges of caring while working in the performing arts and why equality is crucial in caring.
The Challenges of Caring in the Performing Arts
Carers are individuals who provide unpaid support to family members, friends or others who need help due to illness, disability, or age. Many freelance artists and performers carry these responsibilities alongside their creative work. Many do not identify themselves as carers, despite having caring commitments for a loved one.
In the performing arts, the nature of freelance and gig-based careers means schedules can be unpredictable, leaving carers under added pressure to manage both work and caring duties. This is further exacerbated as accessing healthcare and support services can also be more difficult for those who lack the stability of a regular workplace or employer.
Last year, we published a blog about strengthening your freelance career while balancing caring responsibilities, highlighting the need for flexibility and understanding within the industry. Take a look for more insights into the challenges of caring while self-employed.
Caring & Equality: Advocating For Carers’ Well-Being
This year’s Carers Week theme spotlights the importance of equality, particularly in terms of access to healthcare, social care provision, financial support, and fairness in the workplace.
Carers often face barriers when seeking medical advice or treatment, whether due to lack of time, financial constraints, or difficulties navigating services.
For performing arts professionals, whose health is integral to their career, these barriers can be especially damaging.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, stated, “Carers Week 2025 is a crucial opportunity to increase awareness, highlighting those who provide vital care to family members, friends or neighbours when they need it most. We want to see a future where they have the right support and the same opportunities to lead healthy and financially secure lives alongside their caring role.”
How BAPAM Supports Carers in the Performing Arts
At BAPAM, we understand the delicate balance between caring responsibilities and a career in the performing arts. That’s why our clinics are designed to be accessible to professionals across the UK, offering expert healthcare tailored to the unique needs of performers.
Our services are flexible and consider the challenges carers face, making it easier to find the support you need without adding to your stress. We provide clinics online so if you cannot come to our in-person clinic because you are balancing caring responsibilities with work and life, we can still support you.
Whether you’re dealing with a physical injury, vocal strain, or mental health concerns, we’re here to help you stay healthy for your art and your caring commitments.
We also want to highlight the fantastic support offered by our partners and other support organisations in the performing arts.
- PiPA (Parents and Carers in Performing Arts) are working to create a more inclusive performing arts sector for parents and carers. They have a pack specifically created for carers for Carers Week 2025 that includes information on carers rights, a Care Inclusive Access Rider template and links to organisations who are advocating for more fair and inclusive support for carers from the government.
- The Musicians Union has a section on their website with support specifically for parents and carers.
- InTune is a tool created by PRS Members’ Fund and BAPAM and can help creators who are busy with caring responsibilities to quickly access health and wellbeing resources.
- Carers UK provides plenty of advice and guidance for people who find themselves with unpaid caring responsibilities. They have a specialist support line for carers that provides information and support.
Last Thoughts
Carers Week is a chance to recognise the incredible contribution of carers in the performing arts and to speak up about equality for carers in all industries.
If you are a carer, or know someone who is, we encourage you to explore and use the free support available across the industry to make sure that you understand your rights.
If you are a performing arts professional who has a caring responsibility and an injury, illness or health concern that is impacting your ability to work or practice, reach out to BAPAM.
Together, we can create a more inclusive, understanding, and healthy environment for all carers in the performing arts, from Carers Week and beyond!