Charities and social enterprises are invited to apply for grants from a £1m Cabinet Office fund for projects which help support unpaid, family carers.

The Carers Social Action Support Fund, opened today, is accepting applications from organisations that aim to expand or develop social action projects that help improve the lives of carers.

Brooks Newmark, the minister for civil society, said: “There are 5.4 million carers in England and one in three of us will become a carer at some point in our lives. The fund will enable organisations to harness the power of social action to support people who carry out this incredibly important role.

“I urge relevant organisations looking to build on, or adapt, inspiring social action projects for carers to apply.”

The fund, which has come from the Centre for Social Action, a collaboration between the Cabinet Office and the innovation charity Nesta, is now open for applications from the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 

Public bodies and businesses with either a social mission or a clear objective in their corporate social responsibility policy towards increasing social action, or those involved in the delivery of public services, can also apply.

The Cabinet Office said it is looking for organisations with a “strong track record of reaching and creating a positive impact for carers”, as well as an “enthusiasm for measuring the impact of their services” and having the “capacity to quickly build upon existing services”.

Organisations have until 22 October to apply, and can do so here.