Our impact

How we've supported carers this year

 // Carers In Herts > Our impact

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Introduction

“In the 2023 – 2024 financial year, we have continued to see an increasing number of children and adult carers register with us – 4,424 in total. Our challenge has been, and is, to meet their needs amid funding pressures and budget cuts. We regularly review our services with feedback from carers and appreciate them telling us about how we’ve made a difference to their lives. It reminds us of our purpose and priorities – to connect carers to each other and services, to influence decision-makers, and provide support.

With our strategic partners like Hertfordshire County Council and local NHS services, we work to ensure carers are identified, have choice and control over their caring role, and are supported to look after their own health and wellbeing.

Our achievements this year included our Young Carers Service winning a national award, and our Carers’ Passport Service celebrated 10 years of providing discounts and support.

As we approach our 30th anniversary in late 2025, we look forward to growth and new opportunities. With your continued support, we can expand our reach and deepen our impact, while staying committed to excellence, inclusion, and person-centred services.”

Michèle Stokes, Chief Executive

Our year in numbers

43,353 carers and former carers were registered with us at the end of March 2024.97% of carers were in Hertfordshire3% of carers were outside of Hertfordshire4,424 carers were newly registered, which is up 21% from last year. 3,733 of these carers were adults, 691 were aged 18 and under.Just under 23,740 individual carers and bereaved carers received support and information from us. This is up from almost 22,900 last year.124 volunteers helped us to ensure carers were identified, informed, supported and heard.

More followers on our social media pages:

Followers were up 41% on LinkedIn.Followers were up 9% on Facebook.Followers were up 8% on YouTube.

How we help… Connect

We want carers to feel more connected to each other, to services and the communities in which they live. We organise opportunities to bring carers together that help reduce isolation and link them to the support available to them.

Hubs

We run carers support groups in venues across Hertfordshire and online. We also support a Carers’ Camera Club. The groups bring carers together to make friends, provide practical and emotional support to each other, and find out about local services.

Mentoring

We match unpaid carers who need support with trained volunteers with experience of caring or relevant work skills. They will meet or call you regularly at agreed times to provide a listening ear, encouragement and support.

Carer Development and Learning

627 carers and bereaved carers attended a course or workshop. As a result:

  • 97% of attendees said they had gained knowledge or skills.
  • 77% of attendees felt better able to cope.
  • 75% pursued an interest.
  • 65% felt listened to and valued.

How we help… Influence

We help carers share their views and experiences to influence the design and delivery of local and national health, social care and community services that they or the people they look after use.

We also work with organisations and the community to help them better understand carers’ needs and lives and in identifying carers and connecting them with support.

Carers involved in training"It was refreshing to have a voice and be given a platform to raise our struggles and experiences of services in a pleasant and constructive manner."

Carers and former carers received training and ongoing support to help shape and inform carer-friendly services by sharing their experience of caring with health and social care professionals and students. They helped deliver 167 training and co-production sessions this year.

Carers have been supported in having their views and experiences heard by health and social care services when planning or reviewing provision. 643 carers / former carers attended an engagement event.

 

How we help… Support

We enable carers and bereaved carers who use our services to feel more confident and supported in exercising choice and control over their caring role.

Information and Advice

We supported carers with a range of issues such as respite and financial assistance. The top three topics were the support we provide, information about the Carer’s Assessment or a request for a referral for one, and what help adult social services provides.

Carers Passport

Used by carers to:

  • Save money on days out or in shops and businesses
  • Prove their caring role to access help or benefits travelling, or taking some they care for to a health appointment or visiting them in a care setting

3,805 Carers’ Passports were issued this year – up 15%.

Admiral Nurses

Our team of dementia specialist Admiral Nurses supported 871 people caring for someone close to them with dementia this year.

They helped carers with:
• Planning for changes or building resilience.
• Advice on medication or coping with challenging behaviour due to the illness.
• Understanding dementia and more.

As a result of support 62% of carers reported improved wellbeing.

Make a Difference

Current and former carers have received something to benefit their health or wellbeing through our Make a Difference Service. Some people have received equipment to fulfil a hobby or sport, developed their skills by taking part in a course or had a much-needed holiday.

Bereavement Support

263 bereaved carers received bereavement support over the phone and at our two groups – helping them come to terms with their loss and transitioning on from their caring role.

Care Service

Family carers are supported in having time to themselves away from their caring role with the help of our Care Support Workers who provide home care and Carers’ Breaks.

 

Looking forward

In the 2024 – 2025 financial year, we will continue to work with partners and the wider community to ensure people who provide unpaid care or help to someone close to them are not alone in their caring journey. We will:

Implement our three-year plan to 2027.Continue to include the voices of children and adult carers in our work.Improve communications, particularly externally with those not already known to us. We will make better use of our social media channels.Carry on raising funds to provide and expand our services.Attract, develop and retain brilliant staff and volunteers.
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