FORWARD CARERS: Celebrating 10 Years of Supporting Unpaid Carers
2nd January 2025
Forward Carers is thrilled to mark a significant milestone – ten years of empowering unpaid Carers to live fulfilling lives. Since our founding in 2014, our mission has been to create Carer Friendly Communities where Carers are understood, valued, and supported.
We are an award-winning, not-for-profit, social enterprise, Community Interest Company. We work in partnership with other non-profit organisations to make a difference to all Carers regardless of age in Walsall, Wiltshire, Dorset, Birmingham, and Dudley. Over the past decade, our partnerships have extended our reach, offering personalised support that truly changes lives.
10-Year Anniversary Celebration: Reflecting on the Journey
On December 7th, Forward Carers marked its 10-Year Anniversary with a memorable celebration at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham. This landmark event was not only a time to reflect on our remarkable journey but also to celebrate the people who have contributed to our success – from our Carer Ambassadors to our valued partners and volunteers. Together, we commemorated a decade of achievement, growth, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of unpaid Carers.
Simon Fenton, CEO of Forward Carers, shared during the event: “Building the Forward Carers team and partnership over the past ten years has meant everything to me. I’m proud of our focus on our mission to create Carer Friendly Communities, which we deliver by having clear organisation-wide values around partnership, putting Carers at the centre, delivering on impact, and ensuring that everything we do also provides social value to the communities we serve.”
The evening also featured a special recognition segment, where we honoured our founding and current delivery partners, Board, our Carer Ambassadors, who help ensure the voices of Carers remain central to everything we do, and others who have been integral to our success over the years.
Achievements Over the Past Decade:
Looking back on our incredible decade of impact, we are proud to share the milestones that have defined our work and set us apart in the Carer support landscape. From reaching more Carers than ever before to championing Carer Friendly Communities, our journey has been one of growth, partnership, and positive change.
• Reaching More Carers: Over the past ten years, Forward Carers has registered and supported 41,746 unpaid Carers, providing essential services and resources tailored to their needs.
• Investing in Communities: We have invested £16.5 million in the not-for-profit sector, ensuring Carers have access to high-quality, impactful support via a range of locally rooted organisations.
• Shaping Carer Friendly Communities: Forward Carers has inspired over 2,606 businesses to become Carer Friendly by offering discounts for Carers, undertaking Carer awareness training, or creating workplaces that empower Carers to thrive.
• Making a Positive Impact: 97% of Carers rate our support as good or very good. After receiving support, 7 out of 10 Carers feel more positive about continuing in their caring role and have improved physical and mental health.
• Carers Voice Programme: Engaging nearly 1,000 Carers annually through surveys and focus groups, our Carers Voice programme ensures that the voices of Carers shape our services. Our Carer Ambassador volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring our services are available and effective for all.
Looking to the Future:
As we look to the future, Forward Carers is focused on building upon the solid foundation we’ve established over the past ten years. Our commitment to innovation and digital solutions will empower us to reach even more Carers, while our partnership-driven approach will continue to be at the core of everything we do.
Carers remain at the heart of our work, and as we enter the next decade, we are more determined than ever to enhance their lives and create a Carer-Friendly vision for the future. We will be celebrating our 10 years across the next six months with a series of activities with Carers and partners to build upon our foundations – culminating in Carers Week, June 2025.
Dave Rogers, CEO of Midland Mencap and Chair of the Board at Forward Carers, added: “Caring is a journey – sometimes overwhelming, often deeply rewarding, and always constant. Forward Carers has been on this journey for a decade, and we’re excited to continue building Carer Friendly Communities for years to come.”
As we reflect on the past decade and celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support from our partners, volunteers, and Carers.
We look forward to the next chapter of our journey and are committed to ensuring that unpaid Carers continue to receive the recognition, support, and empowerment they deserve.
GUEST BLOG kindly provided by Chantell Marler, Head of Service at Forward Carers | Connect | Contact
Photo credit: Mr Ladd Photography