A new partnership bringing together Carers, health and care services, charities and community organisations is already making a difference for unpaid Carers across Herefordshire, as reported in its first Annual Report.

The Herefordshire Carers Partnership Board, launched in January 2025, bringing Carers and key organisations together formally for the first time to share insights, identify gaps, and collaborate to improve support for Carers of all ages. One of its key roles is to turn the county’s All Age Carers Strategy into practical improvements for the estimated 17,000 unpaid Carers who support family members, friends and neighbours every day.

Marking the start of Carers Week, the Board is highlighting progress in its first ever Annual Report. Key developments focused on making services more joined-up, responsive and accessible, include:

  • New co-produced Action Plan: setting clear priorities and ensuring Carers’ voices directly shape local plans and activity
  • Stronger partnership working: including joint events, shared communications and improved information and guidance for Carers
  • Improvements to Carer Assessments: co-producing and introducing a new standalone Carer’s Assessment, ensuring Carers’ individual needs are fully identified and understood
  • Programme of countywide events, including Carers Week, Young Carers Action Day and Carers Rights Day, helping raise awareness and connect Carers with support

Sylvia Nicholls, Independent Chair of the Herefordshire Carers Partnership Board, said: “Together we’ve made a strong start in building a more coordinated system that recognises Carers’ vital contribution. Carers Week provides another opportunity to say thanks, and especially to recognise the dedication and compassion of unpaid Carers across Herefordshire. There’s more to do, but by putting Carers’ voices right at the centre of decision-making, we are making good progress towards providing more co-ordinated, focussed and effective support.”

The Annual Report also highlights important principles and new ways of working that underpin the partnership’s work including putting carers’ voices at the centre, supporting young carers and building stronger connections across the system

Increased collaboration across health, social care and the voluntary and community sector is already paying off - creating new opportunities to share insight and improve support. This has included joint working by organisations such as Herefordshire Carer Links, Healthwatch, Herefordshire Council, the NHS provider trusts, VCSE organisations and more. Alongside development programmes, the Partnership has brought individuals and organisations together to deliver learning sessions, awareness campaigns and shared events across the county.

Cllr Carole Gandy, Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said: “The progress made inside just one year shows can be achieved by working together - listening, learning and taking action to make a difference. We recognised more than two years ago that we must improve and increase support for unpaid Carers in the county. We know the number of people taking on this vital, unpaid, role has been growing substantially.

“Carers Week is a chance to pay tribute to these thousands of unsung heroes, and for us all to reflect on the work they do, and how we can better recognise and tackle the impact it has on Carers’ own lives. I’m looking forward to more collaboration and to seeing more plans turn into action over the coming months”