What makes a Community Carer Friendly? 

Carer friendly communities are places, spaces, services and community groups where Family & Friend Carers are recognised, understood, and valued.

They make support part of everyday life ensuring Carers get the opportunities and help they need.  

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They are made up of people who:  

• Recognise Family & Friend Carers and the vital role they play 

• Understand the realities and impact of caring 

• Take action to identify and support Carers in practical ways 

• Empower Carers to live fulfilling lives 

When communities work together in this way, Carers have fairer opportunities and can lead better lives. 

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Why we need Carer Friendly Communities

One in 10 people in Wirral were providing unpaid care as of the 2021 census data, but we know there are those who may not recognise themselves as a Carer and more people taking on caring responsibilities

every day.

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These Carers are the backbone of our communities.

Every day, they provide support to friends, family members, and loved ones.

But are often overlooked, undervalued, and unsupported.

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They can face challenges in every part of their lives, affecting their health and wellbeing, education,

careers and livelihoods, relationships, daily life, hopes and aspirations.  

Carer friendly communities can help to change this.

They turn understanding into action and make support part of everyday life. 

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​Making a Difference to Carers 

Carer friendly communities can exist anywhere Carers live, work, study, or spend time.

Even small changes in these places can, and do, make a big difference to Carers’ daily lives.

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There’s lots of different ways Carer friendly communities can help, for instance:  

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• Health – GP practices, pharmacies or health services raising awareness amongst their staff to help identify and connect Carers to support  

• Social Care – taking a whole-family approach to ensure everyone gets the help they need

• Work – offering flexible working to support employees to juggle paid work and caring

• Education – schools, colleges, or universities identifying Young and Young Adult Carers and putting support in place to help them reach their potential    

• Community – community organisations, faith groups, or recreation clubs creating opportunities for Carers to feel connected 

• Business and Services – making everyday tasks easier for Carers by offering flexible or priority access