Black Friday. It’s more than just a sale.

It’s a chance to care wildly. For the neighbour who’s always checking in and gives the best life advice over a cuppa. For the friend who helped you land that new job by meticulously doing practice interviews with you. And for the cousin who’s the highlight of your family Christmas get-together.

And while you’re caring wildly this weekend, we will be too, by donating £25,000 to Carers Trust. Adding to the £385,766 we’ve already raised this year through sales of Our Florist's Pick. This charity supports the UK’s 7 million unpaid carers, who give so much to care wholeheartedly for someone they love. So it’s only natural we do something for them.

Why this donation means more

The £25,000 we’re donating will go to a special fund set up by Carers Trust, The Princess Royal’s Respite Fund for Carers. While caring for someone else is really rewarding, it can also be quite demanding. Providing round-the-clock care often means it’s hard to find time for yourself. Getting replacement care isn’t always an option either - most carers can’t afford (or even find) the right kind of help. And as a result, 8 out of 10 carers have admitted to feeling isolated or lonely. That’s where the Respite Fund comes in. It helps carers take the time off they need to recharge, even if it’s just for a few hours. Giving them access to things like yoga classes, theatre tickets, day trips to the seaside and care packages so they can pamper themselves.

The real people the Respite Fund helps

Our donation will make sure 2,500 carers get a much-needed break. People like Andrea, who looks after her 29-year-old daughter with cerebellar ataxia. This condition affects her coordination, balance, speech and heart, meaning she needs 24/7 care. In the years that she’s been caring for her daughter on her own, Andrea has felt like she has no control over her life, since her daily routine is dictated by her daughter’s needs. And taking a holiday has always been out of the question - something many of us take for granted. Even if she could find constant care for her daughter, Andrea wouldn’t want to go away without her. Just imagine her surprise when she found out she’d been given a grant from the Respite Fund. After years of not being able to, she could now afford a caravan holiday for the two of them. Giving her a deserved break and a welcomed change of scenery. And because Andrea had the support of a care assistant, it meant she could enjoy some guilt-free, quality time to herself. To do things as simple as going for a walk alone, or making the most of the camp’s facilities.

The Respite Fund helps support the young, often forgotten about carers too. Bhavna (whose name has been changed to protect her identity) is 16 years old and helps her mum look after her younger brother with autism. She and her family recently moved to a small town to support her brother, who found living in a busy city too stressful. But this transition was hard on Bhavna because it meant she’d be much further away from her friends. Then, her laptop broke, which made her feel even more isolated. It also meant that she wasn’t able to keep up with her studies. Thankfully, Bhavna received a grant from the Respite Fund, which she used to buy a shiny, new laptop. Now, she has the flexibility to do coursework at home. And this in turn means she can be around more often to support her mum. It’s easier for her to keep up with her friends too - and make new ones, through online groups run by her local carers’ service.

So this weekend, when you send a bouquet to brighten these winter days or a plant they’ll love for years to come, know that the care doesn’t stop there. And if you wanted to do double the good, why not treat someone to Our Florist’s Pick? 15% of profits from this bunch are donated to Carers Trust. To find out more about Carers Trust and the amazing work they’re doing, click here.