Carers facing financial hardship and isolation in Bristol are in urgent need of better support, a report featuring the testimonies of hundreds of people has found.
Drawn from interviews with 250 women across the city, the Shine a Light on Care report calls for more inclusive workplace policies, statutory paid care leave and expanded mental health services.
Led by Bristol Women's Voice, the Value the Caring Economy Alliance says employers, the government and health services must do more to meet the needs of carers.
Katy Taylor, chief executive of Bristol Women's Voice, said: "Bristol's 34,000 carers need immediate, comprehensive support to escape poverty, isolation, and ill health."
Women are seven times more likely than men to become economically inactive due to caring responsibilities, which also costs the local economy an estimated £3.64bn, the report's authors state.
Pearl Kofi cares for her 25-year-old daughter who is severely autistic and has learning difficulties.
She said one of the most difficult things was finding the right support, especially in the early stages of her daughter's diagnosis.
"Since we got the support, life became easier. Although, it's been difficult to actually get back out to work," she said.
"I'd love to get back into work at some point, which I'm sure I will, it would have to be a part-time role to fit in with my caring role."
One of the participants in the report said: "My mother cannot work since she looks after both my sister and grandmother, who require 24/7 care. We struggle a lot financially."
Another said that due to many years of part-time work for different employers, she had "nothing to draw on later in life" due to a lack of pension payments.
Others talked about the lack of flexibility and understanding from their employers, struggling to get healthcare appointments and getting no break after years of caring for loved ones.
The report is urging the government to simplify the benefits system, introduce statutory paid care leave and measures to compensate for lost pension contributions.
It calls on local councils to prioritise carers when allocating financial support and invest in respite services that allow them to have breaks.
Other recommendations were for employers to implement mandatory carer support training and develop inclusive workplace policies.
The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) should create a region-wide standard for flexible working in partnership with carers and embed this into the Good Employment Charter, the report said.
A Weca spokesperson said: "The combined authority is grateful for the work of Bristol Women's Voice and the Value the Caring Economy Alliance."
"The mayor has long recognised the care economy and childcare challenges across our region."
They added: "Working together, we can ensure that local people, particularly women, see and feel a real difference here in the West."
"We will be carefully reviewing the full report and its recommendations, and thank everyone involved for their work on it."