Harry's Pals Charity

13/06/2026

As Carers Week comes to an end, we'd like to take a moment to reflect.

Throughout the week, we've shared statistics about caring, employment, finances, young carers and the incredible value carers bring to society.

But behind every number is a real person.

A parent navigating appointments, therapies and sleepless nights.

A sibling learning to adapt to family life that may look different from their friends'.

A family doing everything they can to provide the best possible care for someone they love.

At Harry's Pals, we know that caring can be rewarding, but it can also be exhausting, isolating and overwhelming at times.

That's why we're committed to supporting parent carers through peer support, counselling and opportunities for families to spend quality time together.

To every parent carer reading this:

We see you. We value you. You matter.

And to everyone else, there are simple ways you can support carers:

💙 Check in with a family you know.
💙 Offer practical help where you can.
💙 Be understanding when plans change.
💙 Learn more about the realities of caring.
💙 Support organisations that provide vital services for carers and families.

Together, we can create a world where carers feel recognised, supported and valued.

Help us continue supporting parent carers across the UK.
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/charity/harryspals

12/06/2026

What is the value of a carer?

It's impossible to put a price on the love, dedication and support carers provide every day.

Yet unpaid carers contribute an estimated £184 billion to the UK economy every year through the care they provide.

Millions of people rely on unpaid carers daily, and together they form one of the largest workforces in the country.

For parent carers, that care often includes managing medications, attending appointments, advocating for services, coordinating therapies and providing round-the-clock support.

This Carers Week, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to every carer. Your contribution matters. Your dedication matters. And you matter.

Help us continue supporting parent carers through counselling, peer support and family respite opportunities.
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/charity/harryspals

11/06/2026

Not all carers are adults.

Across the UK, an estimated 800,000 young carers help support a parent, sibling or family member.

Many take on responsibilities beyond their years while balancing school, friendships and everyday childhood experiences.

Research shows that young carers are significantly more likely to experience loneliness and isolation than their peers.

At Harry's Pals, we know that siblings often play an important role within families caring for a seriously ill or disabled child. They may help with practical tasks, provide emotional support, or simply adapt to family life that can look very different from that of their friends.

This Carers Week, we're recognising the incredible contribution made by young carers everywhere.

If you're supporting a child or young person who has a disabled brother or sister, we'd highly recommend taking a look at Sibs, a charity dedicated to supporting siblings of disabled children and adults. Their resources, information and support can make a real difference.

👉 https://www.sibs.org.uk

Help us continue supporting families across the UK.
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/charity/harryspals

10/06/2026

⚽️🏆 The Harry’s Pals World Cup Sweepstake Draw is Complete! 🏆⚽️

A huge thank you to everyone who signed up and donated to take part in our Harry’s Pals World Cup Sweepstake. 💙

The draw was carried out LIVE on our Facebook Stories, and the teams have now been allocated!

There are certainly some strong contenders in the mix...

⭐ France - Ben Rowell
⭐ Spain - Anonymous 👀
⭐ Argentina - Gerald Whitworth 3
⭐ England - Lily DG 1
⭐ Portugal - Julie Doyle 1
⭐ Brazil - Lizzie Laughton 2
⭐ Netherlands - Jenna Dolan
⭐ Morocco - Mark Skillington
⭐ Belgium - Matt Bishop 1
⭐ Germany - Natasha Marshall

And of course, as we all know, football is wonderfully unpredictable. One of the lower-ranked teams could surprise everyone and go all the way!

📣 We do have one mystery participant. If you are the person listed as Anonymous and you've drawn Spain, please get in touch (with proof!) so we know who to cheer on!

Good luck to everyone taking part. We hope you enjoy following the tournament, celebrating the wins, surviving the penalties, and maybe even claiming one of the prizes at the end!

Thank you once again for supporting Harry’s Pals and the families we work alongside every day. ❤️

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

The cost of caring goes far beyond time.

Many carers face difficult financial decisions alongside their caring responsibilities.

📊 2.6 million people have had to give up work to care.
📊 Many carers face additional costs of around £12,000 each year.
📊 Carer's Allowance is currently worth up to £86.45 per week for at least 35 hours of care.
📊 Over 1 million unpaid carers are living in poverty in the UK.

Behind these statistics are families doing everything they can to provide the best possible care for their loved ones.

For many parent carers, reduced income and increased expenses create additional pressures at an already challenging time.

This Carers Week, we're recognising not only the dedication of carers, but the challenges they face every day.

Help us continue providing support to parent carers when they need it most.
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/charity/harryspals

09/06/2026

Caring doesn't stop when the working day starts.

Across the UK, millions of people are balancing employment alongside caring responsibilities.

📊 1 in 7 employees is juggling work and unpaid care.

📊 600 people leave work every day to care for an older or disabled relative.

📊 2 million people have reduced their working hours because of caring responsibilities.

For parent carers, balancing work with hospital appointments, therapies, school meetings, sleepless nights and caring responsibilities can be incredibly challenging.

Yet with the right support, many carers can continue to thrive in the workplace.

That's why Harry's Pals co-founded Harry's Pledge. Together, we're helping employers better understand the experiences of parent carers and create more supportive, inclusive workplaces.

As part of this work, our CEO, Hayley, also carries out Carer Friendly Workplace Audits, helping organisations understand how supportive they currently are for carers and identifying practical improvements that can make a real difference to employees.

Supporting carers isn't just the right thing to do. It helps employers retain talented, experienced and dedicated staff.

Find out more about Harry's Pledge:
👉 https://harrys-pledge.org.uk

Help us continue supporting parent carers across the UK.
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/charity/harryspals

08/06/2026

Update ***4 teams left! ***don't miss your chance to make the world cup a little more interesting. And don't be shy with making a donation- if we fill up on this sweepstake then we have other supporters supporting us with these too! So you will get a team.

We will draw the teams this Wednesday lunch time at 12:30 pm

So be quick if you want to get involved and make your donation today.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/harryspalsworldcupsweepstake

Thanks for all of your support and to everyone who has already taken part!

Which team are you hoping for?

⚽ WORLD CUP 2026 SWEEPSTAKE IS HERE! 🏆

The countdown to World Cup 2026 has officially begun… and we’re inviting YOU to get involved while supporting local families!

For just £5 per team entry, you’ll be randomly allocated a World Cup team drawn out of the hat

🏆 1st Place Prize: £75
🥈 2nd Place Prize: £25

It’s a little bit of competition… and a BIG chance to make a difference.

Every entry helps Harry’s Pals continue providing:
💙 Emotional support for parent carers
💙 Counselling and therapy
💙 Short breaks and respite for families caring for seriously ill or disabled children

Enter with friends, family or colleagues and make the tournament even more exciting!

To enter, donate £5 per team via our JustGiving page and include your full name when donating. We will draw the names at random when we have filled all the places

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/harryspalsworldcupsweepstake

Thank you for supporting Harry’s Pals and good luck! 💙

08/06/2026

Who is a carer?

When many people hear the word "carer", they think of a paid professional. But for millions of people across the UK, caring is simply part of everyday family life.

A carer could be a parent supporting a child with complex medical needs, a sibling helping their brother or sister, or a family member providing round-the-clock care and advocacy.

There are an estimated 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK, with around 1 in 10 people in England and Wales providing unpaid care.

This Carers Week, we're shining a light on the incredible people who care for their loved ones every day, often without recognition and often while juggling countless other responsibilities.

At Harry's Pals, we're proud to support parent carers through peer support, counselling and opportunities for respite and quality family time.

💙 Thank you to every carer.

Help us continue supporting parent carers across the UK.
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/charity/harryspals

06/06/2026

🚴‍♂️ Good luck to Harry's Pals "Up North" as they set off on their Coast to Coast Challenge! 🚴‍♂️

Today, Chris, Simon, Richard and Frank are taking on an incredible cycling challenge to raise funds and awareness for Harry's Pals.

Six years after completing their first Coast to Coast ride, Chris and Simon have somehow decided it was a good idea to do it all over again! This time they're joined by Richard and Frank, creating a team of four determined (and self-confessed slightly over-ambitious) cyclists who are putting themselves to the test for a cause they care deeply about.

Their motivation is simple. They want to help ensure that more families facing the devastating news that their child has a life-threatening condition can access the emotional support, counselling, respite and community that Harry's Pals provides.

Whether you're cheering them on because you know one of the team, because you admire anyone willing to tackle those Yorkshire hills, or because you believe in supporting families through their toughest times, we'd love you to show your support.

Challenges like this are not only a fantastic way to raise vital funds, they're also incredibly rewarding. Every mile cycled, step walked, mountain climbed or challenge completed helps us reach more parent carers who desperately need support. If you've ever thought about taking on a challenge for charity, we'd love to hear from you!

Please join us in wishing Chris, Simon, Richard and Frank the very best of luck today. We know they'll do us proud. 💙

You can support their fundraising here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-roper-1