To mark Young Carers Action Day (Wednesday 12th March 2025) we will continue to support young carers and their families in Hertfordshire. Our focus is on providing information and assistance to help ease their caring responsibilities and support their wellbeing.

This year’s theme, “Give me a Break,” emphasises the importance of young carers taking time to rest, recharge, and focus on themselves. A break can include doing activities like hobbies, spending time talking to or meeting up with friends, listening to music or watching videos.

We organise activities during school holidays to offer young carers a chance to have fun and connect with others. Events for the Easter and summer breaks are in the works, although we usually offer bowls and skiing courses in the summer as well as sessions with sports and crafts.

For adult carers aged 18 and over, we have upcoming workshops such as online meditation sessions, a spring card-making activity in Hertford, and a first aid workshop in St Albans. Learn more on our events page.

In February 2025, 115 young carers attended our Young Carers’ Conference, with workshops in drama, art, upcycling, and music. The theme, Empathy not Sympathy, was chosen by our Young Carers’ Council. Health, education and social care professionals also attended, hearing about the importance of listening to young carers’ stories and offering tailored support.

Some young carers filmed a video on why it’s important to take breaks from their caring role and what they do when they have time to themselves.

Gemma Roake, our Young Carers Service Manager, said: “Young Carers Action Day provides an opportunity to highlight the challenges young carers face and the support they need. It is also a chance for organisations such as ours to remind young carers that we are there to support them and their families and give them a voice all year round.”

Currently, over 3,200 young carers are registered with us, but many more in Hertfordshire may not be known to services. We encourage anyone who may be a young carer to reach out for support and information.

You can help make a difference by volunteering or fundraising for our cause.

Carers Trust, which co-ordinates Young Carers Action Day, will also advocate for government action to improve opportunities for young and young adult carers. You can learn more about the day and Carers Trust’s work at www.carers.org

To learn more, visit our young carers pages or call us at 01992 58 69 69.

If you provide unpaid care to someone close to you who is elderly, disabled, or has a physical or mental illness and you’re in the South Oxhey area, you may be interested in a new support group that starts in January 2025. You can find out more about it at a festive event at Oxhey Library on Thursday 12th December 2024.

The group will offer a welcoming space for family and friend carers to connect, share experiences, and receive support. The first meeting will be at Oxhey Library, South Oxhey, on Thursday 9th January 2025, 1pm – 2.30pm. Subsequent meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at the same time.

To celebrate the launch, a festive event will be held at Oxhey Library on 12th December, 1pm – 2.30pm. Family and friend carers are invited to attend to learn more about the group, enjoy some festive cheer, and meet other carers in the community.

This initiative is a partnership between us (Carers in Hertfordshire) and Three Rivers District Council. Initially, the group will run for three months.

Nicki Bird, our Volunteer Manager, who oversees our carers’ groups, said: “We are excited to launch the South Oxhey group and provide a regular opportunity for carers to come together, share their experiences, and access valuable resources and support. We look forward to welcoming people with caring responsibilities to our festive event and to meetings from January. If you haven’t already, please contact us to book your place at any session.”

Carers interested in attending the launch event or any of the monthly meetings are asked to book their place either online via the listing in our Events section or by contacting us. Email contact@carersinherts.org.uk or call 01992 58 69 69.

Heavy rain didn’t dampen the spirits or commitment of two carers who completed a fundraising walk for Carers in Hertfordshire to mark Carers Week 2024.

The five-hour walk, organised by Norman Phillips, who is a carer for his wife Ros, took place around the lake at Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage, on Saturday 15th June 2024. It was the 10th fundraising walk Norman has organised.

Taking part with Norman was Elaine Sapstead, who cares for her husband Stephen and did the walk last year, and Norman’s dog Bugle. They were joined for some laps by charity staff, carers, staff from Barclays bank in Stevenage, representatives from Hertfordshire health services and Tom Hennessey, Hertfordshire County Council’s Director of Health Integration.

Norman said: “I try and do what I can to help raise awareness about caring and the issues carers like me face and to support charities like Carers in Hertfordshire, which provide information and services to people looking after a relative, partner or friend who is ill, disabled or elderly. I was happy to arrange the walk, although it was a challenging day with the changing weather – rain, high winds and sunshine. However, carers are resilient and carry on caring during difficult times, so we braved the weather to complete the event.

I was grateful to everyone who attended to show their support, it was a real morale booster.”

Hazel Howell, our Fundraising Manager, said: “Thank you to Norman, Elaine and everyone who took part, donated or popped by to show support, and to Costello’s Café, for donating drinks to keep us warm. What an incredible 10th carer’s walk.”

So far around £800 has been raised, although you may still be able to make a donation at www.justgiving.com/page/normanphillips10thwalktosupportthesupporters

If you’re inspired to take part in a fundraising walk, we have places in two Challenge Central Pub Loop Walks that are about 20km (12 miles). One walk takes in the villages circling Hitchin on Saturday 3rd August 2024, 8am – 2pm, starting at The Plume of Feathers in Ickleford. The other walk is on Saturday 26th October, 8.30am – 1.30pm, from The Orange Tree in Baldock. The entry fee is £30. If you want to take part in the walk, email fundraising@carersinherts.org.uk or call 01992 58 69 69.

It is Volunteers’ Week 3rd – 9th June 2024 – the 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week – and we want to thank our lovely volunteers for sharing their time and skills to help us provide information and support to unpaid family and friend carers. We are always in need of people to volunteer with us, so if you have some time to spare, whether regularly or occasionally, please get in touch with our Volunteer Service.

Julie Hayes, our Hubs and Volunteer Co-ordinator, said: “Our volunteers generously dedicate their time and skills to help us ensure unpaid family and friend carers in Hertfordshire are identified, informed, supported and heard. Thank you so much for all you do. Many of our volunteers (47%) help us around their own caring roles.”

Julie continued that carers often tell us how much they’ve appreciated the support they’ve received and the difference it has made, with compliments such as “I greatly benefited from having a mentor and our one-hour regular talks. Thank you for being a listening ear and for guiding me to set smart goals.”

For Volunteers’ Week we are celebrating and thanking our volunteers with a couple of online events they can join in with a Wellbeing Workshop and a Social. The Wellbeing Workshop is on Tuesday 4th June 2024, 10.30am – 12.30pm and volunteers can pick up tips about stress management and join in a short meditation.

Then on Friday 7th June 2024, 10.30am – 12.30pm, there is a chance to catch up with each other, take part in a fun quiz and hear feedback from carers about the support they’ve received from our volunteers.

If you don’t already volunteer with us, but are interested in supporting us, your help is needed. Some of the roles can be done at home, such as providing telephone bereavement support and making Keep in Touch calls, others like admin support in our Hertford office, and others such as mentoring in person near to where you live or over the phone.

We are also looking for Hub Leaders or joint leaders for our carers’ groups in Berkhamsted, Bishop’s Stortford and Chorleywood and Rickmansworth.

Some of our volunteers have kindly shared their experience of volunteering with us, to give you an idea of what being a Carers in Hertfordshire volunteer is like.

Office-based volunteer Harvey said: “I’ve been providing admin support since January. I got involved through a work taster scheme as I wanted to develop my skills whilst supporting a worthwhile cause. I volunteer about three hours a week and find the role enjoyable and stimulating. The staff and other volunteers are friendly and have made me feel welcome.”

Fran, who has been a Mentor since 2016 and supported 11 carers, said: “I find the role rewarding, giving my time to listen to and guide the carer I’m mentoring.”

For more information about volunteering with us please email volunteer@carersinherts.org.uk or call us on 01992 58 69 69. You can also visit our volunteer pages to learn more.

If you are looking for a way to support our work with unpaid family and friend carers and other good causes whilst having a chance to win a cash prize, why not consider taking part in a community lottery?

Seven of the 10 districts in Hertfordshire have a community lottery and we are delighted to be part of all of them and are looking at whether we can benefit from final two.

It costs £1 per ticket to play the community lottery and 60p of that is donated to good causes – 50p of which can be donated to us if we are your chosen charity.

Each ticket consists of six numbers (each one between 0 and 9) and there will be a weekly draw to generate a six-digit number. You can win a jackpot of £25,000 for matching all the numbers. Other prizes of £25, £250 and £2,000, and free tickets are available for matching fewer numbers in the sequence. Players must have at least the first or last two numbers to win a prize!

The Community Lotteries that we are part of are:

Broxbourne – www.broxbournelottery.co.uk
East Herts – www.easthertslottery.co.uk
Hertsmere – www.hertsmerecommunitylottery.co.uk
North Herts – www.northhertscommunitylottery.co.uk
St Albans – www.stalbansdistrictlottery.co.uk
Watford – www.watfordcommunitylottery.co.uk
Welwyn Hatfield – www.welhatcommunitylottery.co.uk

Hazel Howell, our Fundraising Manager said: “We are so excited to be one of charities that you can support by playing a Community Lottery in Hertfordshire! The funds raised will help us continue ensuring the incredible unpaid family and friend carers across Hertfordshire are identified, informed, supported and heard. Good luck to all who play.”

If you are interested in playing the community lottery you should be at least 18 years old and live in Great Britain.

If you want to sign up to support us for any of the lotteries the links are below along with contact details if you have any questions.
• Broxbourne – www.broxbournelottery.co.uk/support/carers-in-hertfordshire 01992 217888.
• East Herts – www.easthertslottery.co.uk/support/carers-in-hertfordshire 01279 912777.
• Hertsmere – www.hertsmerecommunitylottery.co.uk/support/carers-in-hertfordshire 020 8183 7801.
• North Herts – www.northhertscommunitylottery.co.uk/support/carers-in-hertfordshire 01462 520015.
• St Albans – www.stalbansdistrictlottery.co.uk/support/carers-in-hertfordshire 01727 304020.

We are delighted that our Young Carers Service has been recognised with a national Children and Young People Now Award.

We were announced as the winners of the Young Carers Award at the awards event on Thursday 23rd November 2023 (Carers Rights Day). We beat four other shortlisted organisations and projects to win.

The awards, in their 18th year, were organised by Children and Young People Now, which provide a website and magazine for professionals that work to improve the life chances of children, young people and families in the UK.

Having caring responsibilities can lead to young carers feeling isolated, missing opportunities and poorer health, but we provide information, guidance, and practical support such as activities, to enable young carers to socialise with each other, have a break from caring, develop their skills or knowledge and enhance their wellbeing. We also listen to their challenges and help them share their views and experiences with health and other services that they, or the people they look after, use.

Carole Whittle, our Health and Wellbeing Manager, said: “We are proud of everyone involved with our Young Carers Service, including the young carers who help us design our activities and services, our fantastic staff team who deliver them and our funders – this is your award. It recognises everyone’s commitment and resilience!”

Currently, more than 2,800 young people aged up to 19 in Hertfordshire who provide unpaid care or help to someone close to them who is ill, elderly, disabled or has an addiction is registered with our charity. If you or someone you know is aged 18 or under and has a caring role, contact us to find out about the support we provide young carers and their families. Send an email to young.carers@carersinherts.org.uk or call 01992 58 69 69.

It’s important people who provide unpaid care or support to someone close to them due to illness, a disability, frailty or addiction, know their rights, wherever they are in their caring journey. This Carers Rights Day (Thursday 23rd November 2023) and beyond, we want to help raise awareness about how we at Carers in Hertfordshire and other services are there to ensure carers are identified, informed, supported and heard.

This year’s theme is ‘Your rights: today, tomorrow and in the future’ to highlight carers’ rights currently and due to come into force. Whether in the workplace or education, in accessing health or social care, when interacting with other professionals or at home and the upcoming right for unpaid carers a right to request up to five days unpaid leave a year to care for a dependant they look after.

Whether you are a new carer or have been looking after someone for a while, why not find out about your rights and the support available to you? One way we support carers is by organising workshops and events to enable you to meet other carers and have a break from caring, to pick up tips to help them in their caring role or talk to MPs and people from organisations that pay for or provide health and community services.

We have a range of activities taking place on Carers Rights Day, which include:
• Our Annual Event for Carers in Hatfield, 10am – 3.20pm. Carers attending can take part in workshops such as one focused on meditation, another on benefits and one about legal matters. There will also be information stands so carers can talk to people from various organisations that provide services for unpaid carers or the people they look after.
• A Legal Planning Workshop online, 1pm – 2.30pm. Solicitor Gemma Young, from Setfords Solicitors, will provide information about wills and Lasting Power of Attorney.
• An evening talk about Direct Payments online for people who provide unpaid care or help to an adult close to them that has a physical or learning disability or an autism spectrum condition. The session will cover what Direct Payments are, who is eligible for them, how they can be used and the benefits and drawbacks of them.

We have also arranged for a small group of carers from the Harpenden and Hitchin area to meet with their local MP Bim Afalomi on Friday 24th November 2023, to discuss any caring related issues they face and general challenges and matters they want to raise.

A charity spokesperson said: “Around 9% of people in England and Wales are providing unpaid care or help to a partner, relative or friend, and it is vital they feel confident to know where to turn to for help when they need it and to challenge things when their rights are not being met. We are there throughout the year to ensure carers in Hertfordshire are supported and don’t feel they have to care alone!”

If you are in Hertfordshire who provide unpaid care to someone or you live elsewhere and look after someone in the county, we are there for you. Contact us by emailing contact@carersinherts.org.uk or call 01992 58 69 69. Details of these events and our upcoming courses and workshops are on our Events page and you may be able to book to attend if there is still space.

National charity Carers UK, which co-ordinates Carers Rights Day, has some useful information related to a range of carers’ rights. Visit www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/guides-and-tools/looking-after-someone-guide or get in touch by emailing advice@carersuk.org or calling 0808 808 7777 (9am – 6pm Monday to Friday).

We need your nominations in the Movement for Good Awards as the more votes we receive the greater the chances of getting a £1,000 donation towards our work identifying and supporting unpaid carers.

The Awards is an annual programme of giving by the Benefact Group, an independent, specialist financial services group.

It is easy to nominate us, all have to do is visit https://movementforgood.com/ click on the nominate a charity button and then put Carers in Hertfordshire into the search bar and select us. Then fill in your contact details.

You have until 11.59pm on 6th September 2023 to enter us for the next draw. Then the nominations will open for the December 2023 draws, so please vote for us again from 7th September.

We’d appreciate your vote and ask if you can to spread the word so others can nominate us, so as to improve our chances of securing a donation.

If you’re thinking about having a holiday, either with the person you look after or apart from them, whether a night or two or longer, planning is key. We’ve put this guide together to give you some tips about things to consider, financial help that may be available or ways to make savings. We have tried to cover options to suit a range of caring situations, holiday types and budgets. If you have anything to share, please get in touch.
We have put together the information in response to our 2022 survey with current and former carers who are registered with us as just over half (56%) said they felt they were unable to have a sufficient break from caring. However, there are many benefits to having a break – you may feel recharged and you or the person you care for may benefit from new experiences, a change of scene and routine, and meeting other people.

Holiday types
Camping, caravanning or motorhomes: Many sites have facilities and adaptations for wheelchair users and people with other impairments. You can travel by car rather than public transport, pick somewhere quiet if you or the person you care for cannot cope with busy places and have camping routines, which can be important for people with learning disabilities or an autism spectrum condition who like familiarity. You could even have a test run camping in your or a friend or relative’s garden.

Hotels and package holidays: From budget hotels to five-star resorts there are a range of options. You can get in touch with providers to find out if the rooms or facilities meet the needs of everyone in your party or discuss any assistance or requirements you have.

June, who has been a carer for 30 years and has two adult sons with autism spectrum disorders, said: “We have had regular holidays at the Campanile hotels in France as we can drive to them and the layout, décor and menu are similar at each hotel, which helps my sons feel relaxed and reduces the chance of them having meltdowns due to changes in their routine and environment!”

Cruises: These are often an all-inclusive holiday as meals and entertainment are provided with staff on hand to provide assistance. Ships usually have a range of rooms including accessible ones, and there are cruises that set off from the UK as well as abroad.

Jan, who took her late husband who had dementia on a couple of cruises, said: “At the time my husband couldn’t talk, was in a wheelchair and incontinent, but I wanted to take him away for his 70th birthday. Someone suggested a cruise so I looked into it and booked a disabled cabin. We did a short cruise around the UK first and then a longer Mediterranean one. They were great holidays, we both enjoyed them. I got some rest as there was no cooking or cleaning to do and the staff were helpful. They gave us priority boarding, unloaded the car, got my husband onto the ship and delivered our luggage safely to our room. The staff also helped me by providing extra equipment for the shower so I could ensure our safety and the catering staff prepared suitable purified meals for my husband and arranged mealtimes so we could take it in turns to eat without the food getting cold as I had to support my husband with eating. If you want to explore places at a relaxed pace, taking plenty in but with no frantic rushing and be well looked after, I’d recommend going on a cruise.”

Holiday home rentals: You can pick somewhere to suit your needs and have privacy as you won’t need to share the accommodation with people other than the family, friends or people you are holidaying with.

Jan said: “My son needs 2 to 1 support and we have booked a return break to a holiday home in Norfolk five years after our last holiday. We are taking four paid carers, three will stay in the house with my son and one, who covers the nights, will stay nearby, as will my husband and I. It has taken a lot of planning, but it is worth it seeing my son enjoying the freedom of running along the beach.”

A break without the person with care needs: If you can’t leave the person you care for on their own and don’t have family or friends that can help, you may be able to organise home care or short-term respite. Your local social services should be able to advise you on what is available near you and how to access support.

Diane who cares for three generations with various health conditions and needs – recently had a two-night getaway with her fiancé to a rural treehouse lodge in Kent, thanks to our Make a Difference service. Diane, who has had a caring role for seven years, said: “We had to do a lot of planning, arranging for the children to stay with a relative and for my siblings to be there for our parents, but it was nice to have a break and a digital detox. We came home feeling refreshed and ready to continue with our caring role – meetings, health appointments, applying or reapplying for benefits and more!”

Specialist holidays: There are organisations that provide or signpost to specialist holidays for people with various needs such as a physical disability or dementia (some examples are below). The accommodation and activities are designed to meet the needs of the person you care for. They may even provide respite care so you can have time to yourself.

Dementia Adventure: provides group and supported holidays for people with dementia and memory loss and their families/carers. www.dementiaadventure.org/holidays or email info@dementiaadventure.co.uk or call 01245 237548 (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday except bank holidays).

Disabled Holidays: Lists suppliers in the disability travel industry. www.disabledholidays.com or call 0161 804 9898. 0161 260 0224.

Enable Holidays: Helps people with disabilities or care needs and their relatives / carers find, plan and arrange a holiday to suit their individual needs. www.enableholidays.com or call 0330 380 6800.

Holiday Homes Trust: Is a small charity that own self-catering caravans that they rent out at affordable prices to people with disabilities and their families / carers. There are 10 caravans and 8 are wheelchair accessible. www.holidayhomestrust.info email holiday.homes.trust@scouts.org.uk or call 020 8433 7290.

Revitalise: a national charity providing short breaks and holidays (respite care) for disabled people and carers. www.revitalise.org.uk or call 0303 303 0145.

The Calvert Trust: Delivers UK-based outdoor adventure holidays for disabled adults and children and their families. www.calvert-trust.org.uk or contact a centre directly Exmoor 01598 763221 Kielder 01434 250232 Lake District 01768 772255.

Tourism for All: A national charity supporting people in finding accessible holidays in the UK. www.tourismforall.org.uk or call 0845 124 9971.

Other tips

• Research and plan, but be flexible and have a back-up plan too! Think about what you want from a break, including whether you need accessible accommodation and research the transport options, particularly if travelling with someone with a wheelchair, limited mobility or specific health needs or equipment. You may need to contact companies in advance to organise assistance or discuss requirements.
Be ready for the unexpected and to change plans.

• If you can’t get away consider day trips instead.

• Ensure you have suitable travel insurance.

• Consider where the nearest hospital is and how to contact emergency services, particularly if you are going away with someone who may need medical care.

• Make sure you have enough and if it requires refrigerating, check there are facilities for this. If travelling abroad find out what is allowed into any countries you are visiting or passing through.

• You can have a four-week break in any 26-week period and still be paid Carer’s Allowance if you receive this (although other criteria apply with regards to getting this benefit).

• If the person you care for isn’t going away with you, make sure whoever is supporting them has information about their likes and dislikes, routines, services they use, the medication they take and emergency contacts.

• If you’d love a break but money is an issue or you are not sure about going away with the person you look after could someone else go with you – a friend or relative or someone else you know who wants to take the person they care for away? You could then share the care and costs and perhaps give each carer some ‘me time’.

Help with costs

If the cost of getting away is a problem, there are charities and organisations that provide grants or offer free or low-cost holidays. Some accept self-referrals and others need services or organisations like Carers in Hertfordshire or a health professional to refer.

If you have our Carers’ Passport you can get discounts on holidays with Butlin’s, Haven Holidays, Warner Hotels and Champney’s (spa breaks). Learn more on our Carers’ Passport offers page or call us.

There are also online offers and discount providers, such as Vouchercloud (www.vouchercloud.com) or Discounts for Carers, a provider of savings and offers for family and paid carers – https://discountsforcarers.com

Organisations providing help to self-referrers

3H Foundation: Provides subsidised group holidays for people with disabilities without their family carers. The charity also awards grants towards UK based holidays (criteria applies). www.the3hfoundation.org.uk Contact: email: info@the3hfoundation.org.uk or call: 01892 860207 (9am – 3pm Monday to Thursday).

After Umbrage: Has a holiday cottage in Bath that is offered free to people caring for a relative or someone close to them with a life-limiting or terminal illness and to bereaved carers in the first year after the death of the person they looked after. Learn more at www.afterumbrage.org.uk or email hello@afterumbrage.org.uk

Carefree: Gives carers access to breaks in hotels and holiday cottages throughout the UK, helping accommodation providers fill empty rooms. For people aged 18 or over providing unpaid care for 30+ hours a week and able to arrange alternative care. There is no charge for the accommodation, but you are responsible for the £25 admin fee and other costs such as transport, food and travel insurance. Find out more at www.carefreespace.org/take-a-break email hello@carefreespace.org or call 020 3137 2578.

Disability Grants: If you or the person you support has a disability you can find out about grants for holidays and more at www.disability-grants.org/holiday-grants-carers.html or email contact@disability-grants.org

Hertfordshire Convalescent Trust: Provides Hertfordshire residents on a low income and with a physical or mental illness in the family grants for respite or holidays (criteria applies). You can apply direct or via an organisation supporting you or the person with the illness or disability. Learn more at https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/the-hertfordshire-convalescent-trust-14567 or email hertsconvstrust@outlook.com or call 01992 505886 (07731 403096).

The Respite Association: Provides free week-long seaside holidays to unpaid family carers and funding for respite care. www.respiteassociation.org or email help@respiteassociation.org or call 01566 783383.