Carers in Hertfordshire Timeline

1995 – 2025: 30 years of supporting carers

Carers in Hertfordshire was created following conversations in the 1990s between carers and health and social care professionals who saw the need for an organisation to provide dedicated support to carers in the county. Hertfordshire County Council staff, including Sue Reeve who was a Social Worker at the time, helped make the charity a reality and we were founded in 1995. Sue was our first Chief Executive.

We started with funding for three years and offices in Hitchin and Ware and offered information and advice, support for young carers and people looking after someone with a mental illness.

Over the last three decades we have developed our services to ensure carers and bereaved carers are identified, informed, supported and heard.

1990s

A Linkline phone support service was set up in 1996.

In December 1997: HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne visited the Ware office and met carers at a reception.

June 1998: The Key for Carers Project was launched. It was a resource to help primary healthcare staff identify and support carers.

2000s

In 2001, we held our first Young Carers’ Conference and in 2002, the Young Carers’ Council was formed to give young carers a voice.

During 2005/2006 we recruited a Family Carer Development Worker to support carers affected by someone’s drug or alcohol use. As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations six carers, who were chosen at random in a draw, enjoyed a hot air balloon flight over Essex.

May 2006: Carers of people with mental health problems campaigned on the steps of County Hall, Hertford, to protest against proposed service cuts by the Primary Care Trusts.

2007: Our Carer Trainer Service launched to involve carers in training professionals.

2008: We began organising workshops and learning opportunities for carers and we launched a group for bereaved carers.

2009: The Make a Difference Carers Breaks Service was launched to support carers’ wellbeing.

2010s

The Mentoring Service began in 2012, and continues to support carers today.

2013: Our Carers’ Passport discount card was introduced, an ID card that gives carers access to savings and offers at a range of businesses. It was available countywide by April 2015.

2015: A Digital Inclusion Project was launched to provide tablets and training to carers.

In 2016, we started providing Care Services, including home care in Hertsmere and Carers’ Breaks in Hertsmere, Watford, and Three Rivers.

In March 2017, Hertfordshire’s Dementia Service relaunched with the introduction of a team of four Admiral Nurses that we hosted. We now have seven nurses.

In 2019, we received a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to help us develop more Carers’ Hubs and support volunteers.

2020s

March 2020 – March 2022: The COVID-19 lockdowns led to some of our services such as support groups and workshops being moved online. Our Keep in Touch service expanded to make more welfare calls to carers.

In February 2021, we held our first online Young Carers’ Conference. A month later, we launched the Urgent Carers’ Breaks Service to provide short-term support, which ran until 2024.

In January 2024, a new support group for carers of people with suicidal thoughts was introduced in partnership with Hector’s House, funded by Hertfordshire County Council.

We started two new Hubs this year (2025) – our 17th and 18th – in South Oxhey and Hitchin.