There are around 7 million carers in the UK alone – unpaid people who look after someone who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, mental health problem or addiction and cannot cope without support.

The Curae Prize was established in 2022 to offer a platform to these writer-carers, offering creative focus and access to the publishing industry. Attracting a wealth of extraordinary submissions, the inaugural prize has been widely praised for its inclusivity and spotlighting of neglected talent, and this anthology celebrates the works that made it on to the shortlist.