Sandwell Carers Service: A Year in Review
Local support can make a significant difference to Carers’ wellbeing, confidence and ability to continue caring.
Sandwell Carers Service launched in September 2025, bringing together local organisations to provide information, advice and community-based support for unpaid Carers across the borough’s six towns.
We worked closely with Carers, commissioners and local partners to design a service that responds to local need and provides support in ways that are accessible, flexible and community-based.
Delivered alongside Age Concern, Age UK Sandwell, Midland Mencap and St Albans Community Centre, the service combines local expertise, trusted relationships and digital resources to help Carers access the support that is right for them.
Our Impact Review 2025 explores the service’s first months of delivery, highlighting early engagement, emerging outcomes and the value of partnership working in developing support for Carers across Sandwell.
Why do we produce an Impact Review?
At Forward Carers, we believe that measuring impact is about much more than counting activities or reporting statistics.
Our Impact Review helps us understand whether support is making a difference in Carers’ lives, what we’re learning and where we can improve. It also helps us remain accountable to commissioners, funders, partners and the Carers who help shape our services through their feedback and experiences.
What does the review tell us about Sandwell?
Since launching in September 2025:
- 220 new Carers registered with the service for support
- 708 contacts were made with Carers
- 114 wellbeing assessments helped Carers reflect on the impact of their caring role
- 204 Carer Friendly ID Cards were issued
- 4,696 visits were made to digital Carer support resources on our website
- 373 attendances were recorded across 45 group sessions and events
These early figures provide an encouraging indication of both demand for support and engagement with the range of support available to Carers across Sandwell.
The service offers information and advice, wellbeing conversations, one-to-one support, onward referrals and opportunities for Carers to connect through groups, drop-ins and community activities.
Groups, Connection and Community
One of the strongest themes emerging from the review is the importance of connection.
Groups and community activities create opportunities for Carers to meet others with shared experiences, helping reduce isolation and build confidence. Sessions took place across libraries and community venues throughout Sandwell, including support groups, dementia cafés, drop-ins, outreach sessions and community events.
As one Carer told us:
“I loved attending and sharing information with others in similar situations.”
Carer
The review includes the story of a Carer who attended a local library-based support group while caring for a family member with dementia.
They described how the group became a valued part of their routine, helping them rebuild confidence, reduce loneliness and find reassurance through meeting others who understood their situation.
Understanding Carer Wellbeing
Wellbeing conversations provide Carers with an opportunity to reflect on different aspects of their lives, including health, finances, relationships, safety and having time for themselves.
Early wellbeing assessments highlighted that many Carers were finding it hardest to prioritise their own health and take time away from caring responsibilities. These insights help shape supportive conversations and ensure support remains grounded in what Carers themselves identify as most important.
Making Support Accessible
The review also highlights the role practical support can play in helping Carers manage day-to-day responsibilities.
One Carer received a tablet through the service during a period of high pressure and frequent hospital appointments. The device helped them book GP appointments, order medication, stay in touch with professionals and apply for Attendance Allowance. The Carer said the tablet made managing caring responsibilities easier at a very challenging time and helped them feel more in control.
Examples like this show how practical support, digital access and timely advice can make everyday caring responsibilities more manageable.
Partnership and Local Delivery
A key feature of the service is its local delivery model.
Working alongside Age Concern, Age UK Sandwell, Midland Mencap and St Albans Community Centre helps ensure support is rooted in local knowledge, trusted relationships and community expertise.
The service has also created new roles within Sandwell, with many staff bringing their own experience of caring to their roles. This helps ensure support is informed by a genuine understanding of the realities many Carers face.
Part of a Wider Picture
While this article focuses on Sandwell Carers Service, it forms part of a wider network of services managed by Forward Carers.
Our Impact Review 2025 also highlights services delivered across Birmingham, Dudley, Walsall, Dorset and Wiltshire, alongside our wider work to create Carer Friendly Communities through digital innovation, partnership working and social value initiatives.
Together, these services supported more than 8,000 Carers during 2025 and demonstrate the value of investing in support that helps Carers feel recognised, informed and connected.
The review provides an opportunity to explore both the local impact of services such as Sandwell Carers Service and the wider contribution that Carer support makes across communities.
Thank You
Thank you to the Carers, staff, volunteers, Delivery Partners, commissioners and funders who have contributed to supporting unpaid Carers across Sandwell since the service launched.
Your insight, commitment and collaboration continue to help ensure Carers can access the information, advice and support they need.
Read the Impact Review
Whether you’re a Carer, a partner organisation, a commissioner or simply interested in supporting unpaid Carers, we invite you to explore the full Impact Review and learn more about the difference being made across Sandwell and the wider Forward Carers network. We hope you find the review informative and useful.
