Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales' story

Supporting carers through crisis and beyond

Thanks to the Carers Support Fund, Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales has delivered life-changing support to hundreds of carers facing financial hardship.

Thank you so much to Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales for being there when we were at our lowest.

Improving financial security

Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales (CTCWW) has been at the heart of supporting unpaid carers across west Wales. The Carers Support Fund project run by CTCWW has reduced the financial hardship experienced by over 600 carers across Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. It has improved carers’ financial security, helping them to maximise their incomes and reduce expenditure, through immediate access to grants, white goods and food vouchers.

The project has:

• Helped carers secure over £657,000 in benefits, grants and savings
• Issued over 145 grants for essentials like food and white goods

Cathy Boyle from CTCWW shares, “During 2024/25, we provided one-to-one support for carers to maximise their income, by claiming eligible benefits and accessing grants. We also helped to reduce their outgoings through offering support and guidance on reducing utility costs and accessing discounts, such as council tax discounts, and improved budgeting skills. This has resulted in over £657,000 secured by the service on behalf of unpaid carers.”

A holistic approach to financial wellbeing

Their Carers Support Fund project goes beyond immediate financial aid. It offers person-centred, holistic support that empowers carers to regain control of their finances, reduce stress and access wider services. The team made 364 referrals to other services for ongoing support for carers and delivered almost 400 welfare benefit checks. In doing so, it has improved:

• Quality of life: enabling carers to meet their basic needs and to feel economically secure
• Knowledge: increasing awareness of where to access support in future
• Mental wellbeing: reducing stress and anxiety through crisis support
• Resilience: equipping carers with tools and information to continue in their caring role and manage future challenges
• Access to wider support: connecting carers to services like respite care, assessments, and community groups.

I have felt so taken care of with your services. My financial and emotional wellbeing is improved. The food parcels and vouchers have been such a help. I cannot thank you enough.

Quick response

Thanks to funding of the scheme from Welsh Government, CTCWW provided much needed grants for food vouchers and essential household items, helping to alleviate immediate financial pressures for carers.

Cathy explains, “We were able to respond quickly to carers who were experiencing financial hardships and issue food voucher grants immediately – sometimes on the same day. Food vouchers have alleviated immediate pressures on carers who were in, or heading towards, financial crisis and in some cases did not know where their next family meal would be coming from.

Katie’s Story – emergency support when it mattered most

Katie*, a mother of four, found herself in crisis late on a Friday afternoon. Katie, who was taking time off from her job as an NHS mental health nurse to care for her two children with disabilities, had no food in the house, a broken-down car, and was overwhelmed.

The CTCWW team acted immediately- arranging a food parcel and hot meals, personally delivering them within hours. Katie also received a supermarket voucher, support with benefit applications and guidance on budgeting and discounts.

I don’t know what I would have done without your support and for just listening to me. Thank you so much.

Katie now has the tools and knowledge to manage her finances and knows where to turn for help in the future.

Naomi’s Story – a lifeline in a time of crisis

Naomi* became a full-time carer overnight when her 10-year-old son developed severe anorexia which resulted in multiple organ failure and intensive medical intervention. As her husband had recently lost his job and she had been put on statuary sick pay, they only had £690 a month to support the family of four. Naomi was overwhelmed and unfamiliar with the benefits system. The Carers Support Fund provided:

• immediate access to food banks and electricity vouchers
• a supermarket voucher
• help securing £333 from the Discretionary Assistance Fund
• support with benefit applications worth over £17,000 annually
• ongoing guidance on budgeting, discounts and entitlements
   

“I do not know what I would have done without your support. Honestly, I cannot thank you enough. You have been fantastic.”

Naomi’s financial situation has dramatically improved, and her family is now better equipped to manage the challenges ahead. 

Empowering carers to thrive

The provision of holistic person-centred and tailored support has had a real impact on carers overall financial wellbeing. Cathy from CTCWW concludes, “Our service model enables us to respond quickly when carers are experiencing significant financial hardship and/or are in financial crisis. Furthermore, improved financial circumstances via additional income for carers through grants and welfare benefits, along with supporting them to reduce outgoings through budgeting and accessing reduced tariffs on utilities, social broadband, etc. has in many cases prevented carers from living in poverty."

The Carers Support Fund has enabled carers to put food on the table, fuel in their cars and heat their homes which, as well as improving their quality of life, has helped to reduce stress and anxiety, improving their overall wellbeing.

By combining financial support with emotional and practical guidance, CTCWW has helped carers not only survive crisis but build long-term resilience. Their Carers Support Fund project continues to be a vital lifeline for unpaid carers across West Wales.

^{*names have been changed to protect privacy}