Carers Support Fund Wales Programme

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Carers Support Fund Programme

Unpaid carers often face significant disadvantages that impact their financial situation, health and social wellbeing, from limited employment opportunities to social isolation. Young carers can be educationally disadvantaged, and adult carers may have to make significant career sacrifices and face pension gaps.

The Carers Support Fund, funded by Welsh Government, aims to provide essential services and grant funding to support unpaid carers who are facing such hardships, particularly due to the rising cost of living.

Since its inception in 2022, the fund has provided just over £4 million in grant funding, benefiting local organisations and aiding over 29,000 unpaid carers across Wales. These grants offer crucial relief to individuals who are caring for loved ones without formal compensation, helping to alleviate financial pressures.

Carers Support Fund 2022-25: Impact

How the fund supports unpaid carers

Direct grants

The Carers Support Fund provides direct grants to unpaid carers through local organisations, helping to alleviate financial pressures and improve their quality of life. These grants are allocated for essential items and services, including:

  • White goods/household items: Support for purchasing appliances and household essentials.
  • Food and supermarket vouchers: Assistance with buying groceries and basic needs.
  • IT equipment: Funding for Wi-Fi, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones to help carers stay connected and access resources.
  • Educational opportunities: Grants for courses and activities that promote personal development and learning.
  • Fuel/energy costs: Helping with rising fuel and energy expenses to ease the financial burden.
  • Warm clothing: Assistance with purchasing clothing for colder weather.
  • Uniforms: Support for carers who need uniforms for their work or training.
  • Household repairs: Funding to address essential home maintenance and repairs.
  • Transport costs: Assistance with travel expenses, ensuring carers can fulfill their duties and access services.
  • Energy-saving equipment: Grants for items like air fryers, electric blankets, slow cookers, and shower timers to help reduce energy consumption and lower bills.

These direct grants provide practical, immediate financial relief to unpaid carers, ensuring they have the necessary resources to support both themselves and those they care for.

Additional services

The Carers Support Fund also offers a range of services to unpaid carers through local organisations, designed to address financial hardships and improve overall well-being.

These services include:

  • Direct financial advice and income support: Offering guidance to help carers navigate financial challenges.
  • Financial literacy and money management workshops: Covering topics such as budgeting, energy saving, debt management, gambling awareness, and accessing discounts.
  • Council tax support: Assistance in managing and reducing council tax burdens.
  • Carer skills and life skills workshops: Helping carers develop practical skills like CV writing, cooking, and clothes repair, which can enhance their independence and quality of life.
  • Debt and money management support: Providing professional advice to help carers manage debt and plan for a stable financial future.
  • Signposting and referrals to financial support organisations: Connecting carers to vital resources such as food banks, community gardening initiatives, and welfare benefit advice.
  • Advocacy services: Ensuring carers have a voice in accessing the services they need and advocating for their rights.
  • Provision of financial awareness resources: Supplying educational content to improve financial awareness and decision-making among unpaid carers.

These services aim to relieve financial pressures, empower carers with life skills and offer support, enhancing their ability to continue their caregiving roles.

Detailed below is information on the local organisations funded to support carers as part of this programme. Applications from individual unpaid carers to the Carers Support Fund should be made directly to the local provider.

Questions about the Carers Support Fund should be directed to wales@carers.org.

Local Authority Area Support

Please see below for summary details of support organisations available for carers in their area:

Carers Support Fund Providers

Please see below for summary details of what each provider is delivering for carers in their area: