Shining a spotlight on unpaid carers

There are an estimated 55,000 carers in Buckinghamshire, but insight shows that less than a quarter are registered with Carers Bucks, the partner organisation providing support to carers in the county. Our aspiration in Buckinghamshire, as outlined in the All-Age Carers Strategy 2025-2030, is that every carer in Buckinghamshire be recognised and valued, being able to access the information, support, and resources they need to live fulfilling lives, alongside caring.

This free event was held in Amersham earlier this week, on the run up to Carers Rights Day, with over 100 attendees from across the county, including carers, health and social care professionals, voluntary and community sector organisations and elected members.

Engaging talks were held, including key notes by two national speakers, Emily Holzhausen, CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK and Dominic King-Carter, Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the Carers Trust, providing an overview of the national landscape for unpaid carers across the UK. Opportunities were available for carers to chat with different services and organisations and take part in a workshop to give their views and insights. Together, key partners explored challenges as well as opportunities, to strengthen identification of unpaid carers as well as the support available to them in Buckinghamshire.

The event also provided opportunity to promote our live communications campaign for unpaid carers, ‘Stronger with Support’, which launched last month. The campaign promotes the specialist advice, information and support available to unpaid carers across the county, from financial assistance, information and guidance to networking support groups and digital support available 24/7. Carers are encouraged to register as a carer with their GP and Carers Bucks, to ensure they can access the full range of support available and keep themselves healthy.

Isobel Darby is Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, she said: “I was delighted to attend this event and meet so many of our carers who do such an amazing job looking after loved ones. We want to let them know that they are not alone and help and support to help them is available.

“Today is Carers Rights Day, so the perfect time to show our appreciation for all carers in Buckinghamshire and remind them that there is a wide range of support out there for them to access.”

For more information on the Stronger with Support campaign visit: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/stronger-with-support.

You can also find out more about the Buckinghamshire Carers Partnership on the website: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/health-wellbeing-and-sports/buckinghamshire-all-age-carers-partnership-board/