This year’s theme, “Building Carer-Friendly Communities,” highlights the importance of ensuring carers are recognised, supported, and able to access the help they need while balancing their caring responsibilities.
Across Kent, thousands of unpaid carers provide essential support to family members, friends, and neighbours. Their contributions are invaluable not only to those they care for but to local health and social care services.
Carers Week is a time to recognise the incredible work of unpaid carers
KCC is continuing to strengthen support for unpaid carers through a range of services, initiatives and partnerships across the county:
Kent Connect to Support
The Kent Connect to Support website offers practical guidance, information and access to resources for carers at every stage of their journey, helping people know how to start finding the right support when they need it.
Local library drop-in sessions
Two Libraries in Kent will host drop-in sessions during Carers Week, led by KCC’s Technology Enhanced Lives service and the Involvement and Information team. These sessions will provide advice on local support for carers, as well as information on technology and assistive devices that can help carers manage day-to-day responsibilities more easily.
- 8 June: 10am – 4pm Ashford Library, Church Rd, Ashford TN23 1AS
- 9 June: 10am – 4pm Dartford Library, Market St, Dartford DA1 1EU
Launch of the Carer Voice Group
A new Carer Voice Group has been launched to bring together carers from a wide range of backgrounds to help shape future support in Kent. The group will play a key role in strengthening collaboration between carers, commissioners, operational leads and service providers. The first online meeting will take place 11am - 12 midday on 9 June. It's open to carers of all backgrounds.
Reserve a space by emailing makingadifference@kent.gov.uk
Visit our Kent Connect to Support website for further details about how to Get Involved in shaping support.
Improving carers’ health and wellbeing
More than 900 carers have taken part in a health needs assessment survey focusing on both physical and mental wellbeing and understanding the needs of the Kent population. Carers and partner organisations are now helping to shape recommendations and a delivery plan to improve joined-up support going forward as part of KCC's Adult Social Care Prevention Framework - a ten year plan to support healthier, fulfilled and independent lives.
BetterCare Support - online carer's needs assessment
A carer's needs assessment focuses on what a carer needs and the support they require to keep caring. It checks how caring affects their wellbeing and if they can and want to continue. The Care Act 2014 treats carers the same as the people they care for. Even if the person who is cared for doesn't want an assessment, the carer can still get one. During the assessment, you can explore different services and support options to help meet carer needs. Assessments are available through KCC’s commissioned carer support providers, but an online carers self-assessment can be completed at any time.
The BetterCare Support Carers Self-assessment tool is easy to use and includes information, advice and animated videos to explain what support is out there. Complete the carers self-assessment
Raising awareness of carers’ rights
Unpaid carers are entitled to information, advice and guidance, and can register as a carer with their GP for support and guidance. The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 also gives eligible carers new rights at work, including:
- Up to one week of unpaid leave each year to care for someone with long-term needs
- The ability to take leave flexibly, in half or full days, from day one of employment
- Protection from dismissal linked to taking carer’s leave
Supporting working carers
KCC is working with unpaid carers and local charity Mending the Gap to raise awareness and provide practical support for working carers through the “Someone’s Listening” campaign. Employers across Kent are being encouraged to sign up and demonstrate their commitment to supporting carers within their workforce.
“...it’s so important that we come together as communities to recognise what carers do and make sure they feel seen, valued and supported.”
Cllr Georgia Foster, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: “I want to say a heartfelt thank you to every unpaid carer across Kent. So many of you are quietly caring for loved ones day in, day out, often behind closed doors and without recognition. The compassion, strength and resilience you show is truly inspiring.
“We know caring can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be exhausting and isolating at times. That’s why it’s so important that we come together as communities to recognise what carers do and make sure they feel seen, valued and supported.
“During Carers Week, and every week, we want carers to know they are not alone – and that help, understanding and support is there for them.”
Get involved
Residents, businesses, and community groups are invited to get involved by:
- Recognising and supporting carers in their communities
- Sharing information about local campaigns and services
- Promoting carer-friendly practices in workplaces and organisations
Find out more
For more information about support for Carers, visit: Support for carers - Kent County Council
