Unpaid carers face unique challenges—financial pressures, practical struggles, and emotional demands are all part of the caring journey. Nearly two-thirds of carers report being worried about covering basic living costs or managing in the future, with many cutting back on essentials like food and heating. Knowing where to turn, and understanding one’s rights, is essential.
This page offers a comprehensive introduction to the most important financial, legal, health, employment, and support rights available for unpaid carers. It brings together guidance on benefits (such as Carer’s Allowance and Disability Living Allowance), bill reduction schemes, employment legal protections, and community resources designed to help carers not just cope, but have access to a safety net in difficult times. Whether navigating complex applications for financial support, exploring breaks and respite care, or preparing for the unexpected with contingency plans, this page is here to help carers feel informed, valued, and actively supported throughout their caring journey.
In addition, Solihull’s Here2Help scheme acts as a practical gateway for carers—offering direct access to Community Advice Hubs, face-to-face and online advice, and links to a wide network of services, discounts, and emergency contacts. Here2Help enables carers to get answers and support for everyday challenges, from benefits and financial planning to wellbeing workshops and urgent help in a crisis. All of these resources are designed to ensure unpaid carers are informed, valued, and actively supported—whatever their circumstances, and whatever their caring journey brings.
Also, don’t forget to look through our Video Library for content published from our annual Carers Rights Day events. It features prominent people and organisations, some of whom you will read about on this page, sharing and discussing important information and lines of support, specifically for you.
Learn more at our Video Library and just click Carers Rights Day Archive
Carer’s Allowance is a government benefit in England for people who provide substantial care—at least 35 hours a week—to someone who receives certain disability benefits. It is available to those aged 16 or over who meet specific eligibility criteria, including limits on earnings and education. Carer’s Allowance is not means-tested, but it is taxable and may affect other benefits received by both the carer and the person cared for.
The person cared for does not need to be a family member, nor do they need to live with the carer. Only one carer can claim Carer’s Allowance for an individual, and if someone else also provides care, only one person can receive the payment. Claiming Carer’s Allowance can result in changes to other benefit entitlements, and recipients automatically receive National Insurance credits towards their State Pension. Applications are made via the Department for Work and Pensions.
Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit designed to address deficiencies in your National Insurance history. Your State Pension eligibility is determined by your National Insurance contributions, and your income, savings, or investments do not impact your eligibility for Carer’s Credit.
It is used to help protect State Pension by filling in the gaps in your National Insurance record. Carer’s Credit is not a payment you receive. It is a National Insurance Credit, to fill stop gaps in your National Insurance Contributions. You can apply for Carer’s Credits if you provide care for more than 20 hours per week but fewer than 35 hours. It is not means-tested.
Attendance Allowance provides financial support to help cover extra costs for those with a disability or health condition who need someone to look after them, especially for individuals over State Pension age. This benefit is not means-tested and can be claimed whether or not someone is currently providing care, making it particularly relevant to unpaid carers and those they support. The allowance is paid at two rates, £73.90 or £110.40 per week, depending on whether care or supervision is needed during the day, at night, or both, and there are fast-track rules for those nearing the end of life due to a life-limiting illness.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) offers financial support to cover extra living costs for people aged 16 or over who have a long-term physical or mental health condition and face difficulty with everyday tasks or getting around. PIP is not means-tested, so carers and the people they support can apply regardless of income, savings, or employment status. It’s made up of two components—a daily living part for help with tasks like washing, dressing, eating, and socialising, and a mobility part for help with planning journeys or moving around, including due to mental health conditions like anxiety.
Eligibility is assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions, who look at how often and how severely someone’s condition affects daily life and mobility, including whether help or special equipment is needed. PIP can be paid whether or not someone has a formal carer, but if the person receiving PIP has substantial needs, the carer may also be able to claim Carer’s Allowance. Accessible guides, including British Sign Language and Easy Read formats, are available, and advisers can provide support with understanding or applying for PIP.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children helps with the extra costs of looking after a child under 16 who needs much more care, attention, or supervision than another child their age, or who has difficulties walking or moving around. DLA is available regardless of the parent’s work status or income, making it a vital source of financial support for families and unpaid carers.
How much DLA is awarded depends on the level of help the child requires, with rates ranging from £29.20 up to £187.45 each week. To claim, the child must have had these needs for at least three months and expect them to last for at least six months. Accessible information is available in Welsh, British Sign Language, and Easy Read format, and carers can often receive extra help if their child qualifies for DLA.
There is a wide range of financial support and grants available to help unpaid carers and the people they care for manage energy and heating costs, particularly over the winter months. Schemes such as the Cold Weather Payment and Winter Fuel Payment are designed to ease the pressure of rising bills during colder periods, while energy suppliers and charities also provide practical help, from free gas safety checks to support with clearing debt.
Carers who look after someone who is older, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable can also benefit from joining a Priority Service Register with their gas, water or electricity supplier, ensuring that their household is prioritised in the event of a supply issue.
Beyond these government schemes, charities such as Act on Energy offer advice, tools and direct support to help you lower bills, negotiate with suppliers and improve energy efficiency at home. Individual energy providers may also have their own grant schemes to help tackle energy debts, with some funds available even to non-customers, such as through the British Gas Energy Trust.
Support extends to water bills too, with reductions available through initiatives like Severn Trent’s Big Difference Scheme for low-income households, and Watersure for families who need to use extra water because of medical conditions. National charities, including Scope, also provide guidance and tailored advice on reducing energy and water costs. These resources together can make a significant difference and ensure carers are not left struggling alone with the rising costs of essential services.
Learn more about Energy Support for Carers
Learn more about Reducing Energy & Fuel Bills with Here2Help
Learn more about Cold Weather Payment
Learn more about Winter Fuel Payment
Learn more about Priority Service Register here and here
Learn more about Grants and Benefits To Help You Pay Your Energy Bills
Learn more about British Gas Grants (Available to non-customers too)
Learn more about Big Difference Scheme
Learn more about Disability Energy Support
Learn more about WaterSure Scheme
Learn more about Act On Energy
Listen to Carers Talk – “Act on Energy — Save Money On Your Energy Bills”
Unpaid carers in Solihull may be able to lower their council tax through a range of carer-specific discounts and reductions. If the person cared for is entitled to certain benefits, or if a carer provides at least 35 hours of care per week and lives in the same household but is not the spouse, partner, or parent of someone under 18, they can be ‘disregarded’ for council tax purposes—potentially qualifying the household for a 25% or even 50% discount, depending on circumstances. Carers can apply directly for this discount using a dedicated form, and if the cared-for person receives attendance allowance or similar benefits, the reduction may be significant.
Additionally, carers on a low income may be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction, which could reduce bills by up to 85% for working-age households or by 100% for those over pensionable age. There are also discretionary reductions for those experiencing severe financial hardship or an unexpected crisis. It’s important for carers to update the council if household circumstances change—such as another adult moving in—to avoid penalties.
Both you and the person you care for can use this benefits calculator as long you are over 18 and aren’t students. It is free to use and none of the information that you provide to Turn2us is shared with anyone else.
Make sure you have all the information you need on hand before you start. This helps to make sure that the advice you get is accurate.
Unpaid carers who are also in paid work have important legal rights and protections under UK employment law, regardless of whether they work full-time, part-time, are self-employed, or on a zero-hours contract. All working carers are entitled to the National Minimum Wage, paid holiday, rest breaks, and protection from discrimination. Employees have the most statutory rights, including protection from unfair dismissal, the right to request flexible working from day one, statutory sick pay, and parental leave. As of April 2024, the Carer’s Leave Act ensures all employees can take up to a week of unpaid leave each year to help care for a dependant with long-term care needs—from the very first day of employment.
Carers working on zero-hours contracts also benefit from legal protections such as written terms, itemised payslips, fair treatment, and the freedom to work for multiple employers. If employment status or contract terms seem unclear or unfair, carers can get confidential advice and dispute resolution support from ACAS. Knowing about these rights not only helps safeguard jobs and wellbeing, but also enables carers and employers to build understanding around balancing work and care effectively.
Learn more using “Your Guide to Carer’s Rights in Work” here
Introduced with the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, employees can take up to one week of unpaid leave per year to care for or arrange care for any dependant with a long-term care need, disability, or care needs due to old age. This entitlement applies from the first day of employment, and the dependant does not have to be a family member—it can be anyone relying on the employee for care. Carer’s leave can be taken flexibly: as individual days or half-days, or as a whole week, based on the employee’s typical working week.
Employees in the UK have a legal right to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off work to deal with emergencies involving someone who depends on them, such as a spouse, partner, child, grandchild, parent, or another person who relies on them for care. This right starts from the first day of employment and covers situations like sudden illness, injury, disruption to usual care, or issues at a child’s school. There’s no strict limit to how many times this can be used, but the leave is intended for unexpected events and should only last as long as it takes to resolve the immediate emergency.
Learn more about Time Off For Family and Dependant Emergencies
From 6 April 2024, the Flexible Working Act grants working carers in England, Wales, and Scotland new rights to better balance paid employment with caring responsibilities. Employees can now request flexible working arrangements from day one in a job, rather than having to wait 26 weeks, and are entitled to make two requests in any 12-month period. Employers must consult with employees before rejecting a request and cannot demand proof of caring responsibilities; the employee no longer has to explain the business impact of their request. Flexible working covers options like flexi-time, part-time hours, home or hybrid working, job sharing, staggered hours, and more, allowing carers to tailor work to their circumstances.
These new rights help carers access a working pattern that supports both their caring role and their wellbeing, making it easier to remain in employment while caring for someone.
Carers are covered by the Equality Act 2010, with protections against discrimination because of their association with someone who is disabled. Employers are not allowed to treat carers less favourably due to their caring commitments.
Parental leave allows employees with at least one year’s continuous service and parental responsibility for a child under 18 to take up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave per child to care for them. This leave is available to parents named on the birth certificate, adoptive parents, or those with legal parental responsibility, and can be taken in blocks of a week (usually up to four weeks per year, per child) or, if caring for a disabled child, in blocks of a day.
Employers can postpone parental leave if it would cause significant workplace disruption but cannot refuse or cancel it entirely; leave cannot be postponed immediately after birth or adoption. Employees must give 21 days’ notice to take leave, which must be used before the child turns 18. In addition, the Parental Bereavement Leave law grants all employed parents two weeks of statutory leave if they lose a child under 18 or suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks’ pregnancy.
The Employment and Skills Team at Solihull Council is dedicated to building a dynamic, skilled, and sustainable workforce for the borough. By working closely with local employers, training providers, schools, and colleges, the team offers tailored support to both job seekers and businesses. Whether someone is looking to enter work, upskill, change career, or recruit staff, the Employment and Skills service provides guidance, training opportunities, partnership programmes, and personalised advice to help meet the evolving needs of the local economy.
Learn more about Solihull Council Employment and Skills Team
Support for carers’ mental health is more important than ever, with recent surveys showing that the majority of unpaid carers in the UK feel overwhelmed or are struggling with poor mental health. Taking care of wellbeing is not a luxury—regular breaks, self-care techniques, and emotional support are vital, both for the carer and the person they care for. Carers in Solihull, Birmingham, and the West Midlands can access a wide range of mental health resources, self-soothing techniques, outdoor activities, and healthy living tips designed to boost resilience and manage stress.
Local and national charities, such as Mind, offer practical help, while the NHS Recovery Academy provides free courses for carers on topics like coping with anxiety, healthy relationships, and relaxation—no referral required. Free online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is also available in Birmingham and Solihull, and Jami UK provides peer support, advocacy, and emotional help specifically for those caring for someone with mental health needs. Carers are entitled to a Carer’s Assessment from their local council, which can identify further support and respite options, although access can sometimes be challenging. Most importantly, carers should know they are not alone—there is a community of support, practical guidance, and activities available to help them take those all-important first steps towards better mental health.
Learn more about Carer’s Assessments
Registering as a carer with your GP can open up a range of tailored support to help you manage your caring role and look after your own health. Once your GP knows about your caring responsibilities, they can record this in your medical notes and may offer you free annual health checks, annual flu jabs and Covid-19 boosters, priority appointment times, and access to a ‘Carer’s Champion’ at the practice for extra support. Your GP can also provide information, signpost you to local support groups and respite services, and help arrange double appointments or home visits if travel or time is a challenge.
If you look after someone with dementia or other long-term conditions, your GP can involve you in care planning and help with letters or applications for benefits and assessments, including Carer’s Allowance, Blue Badge parking, and carer’s assessments. Many practices keep a carers’ register (with some also for young carers), ensuring practice staff are aware of pressures you face and can act with more flexibility and understanding. Telling your GP you’re a carer isn’t compulsory to get support or benefits, but it can make accessing help easier and more personalised for your situation.
Download a Template Letter for your GP
Learn Why It’s Important to Talk to your GP
Learn more about Carer’s Assessments
Respite care gives unpaid carers a vital chance to take a break while someone else looks after the person they care for. This can help prevent exhaustion and support carers’ wellbeing. Options include short stays in care homes, day care centres, help at home from paid carers, supported holidays together, befriending or sitting services, and even practical support from friends or family. Some respite is informal and some—like day centres or care homes—may be funded by the local council after an assessment.
To get council-funded respite care, both the carer and the person cared for need to have assessments: a carer’s assessment and a needs assessment. These determine eligibility and the most suitable type of break, and are also needed before local authorities will help cover costs. When not eligible for council support, carers may self-fund, or explore grants from charities. Local carer services, the Carers Trust, and the NHS website provide practical guides and listings for respite options available locally.
Learn more about Carer Breaks and Respite Care (Solihull Council)
Learn more about Carer’s Breaks and Respite Care (NHS)
Learn more about Carer’s Assessments
Unpaid carers in Solihull can access a lively and welcoming range of social groups, peer support networks, and practical wellbeing resources to help reduce isolation and build resilience. Carers Trust Solihull runs social meet-ups, day trips, and relaxation sessions—all free and open to carers of all ages and backgrounds. Special groups and events cater to young carers, young adult carers, and parent carers, making it easy for everyone to find companionship and understanding.
Peer support sits at the heart of these services, with facilitated groups and befriending programmes—online and in-person—offering emotional support and practical advice from both trained staff and fellow carers.
A wealth of easy-to-access self-care resources and workshops is also available, providing carers with tools for stress management, resilience, and healthy routines. No professional referral is required to join—just a simple registration online or by phone—and the support team can guide carers to other local activities, partner schemes, or specialist help if needed. All of these opportunities are designed to put carers’ wellbeing first, offering vital connections and encouragement throughout their caring journey.
Learn more about Carers Trust Solihull’s Events and Activities
Carers Trust Solihull offers comprehensive mental health support for unpaid carers of all ages in Solihull, aiming to help carers build resilience, better manage stress, and find time for their own wellbeing. The support hub provides a mixture of practical resources—like the Carers’ Self-Soothing Toolkit, advice on healthy eating for carers, weekly self-reflection check-ins, and tips for using music and connecting with nature to improve mood and manage stress.
Emotional support is available through confidential one-to-one sessions, befriender services, and peer groups, ensuring carers always have someone to talk to who understands the unique pressures of caring. Free online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is also available for those aged 16 or over in Birmingham and Solihull, making specialist help more accessible. Carers can also access a variety of relaxation and respite activities—such as day trips, group meet-ups, and relaxation therapies—plus workshops and online webinars focused on coping with stress, self-care, and mental wellbeing.
For urgent mental health support or crisis situations, carers are signposted to relevant helplines and local NHS talking therapies. All information is tailored to carers, making it easier to take practical steps towards better mental health, reduce isolation, and maintain a sense of balance throughout their caring journey.
Learn more about Carers Trust Solihull’s Mental Health Support Hub
Carers Trust Solihull provides a holistic health and wellbeing support service for unpaid carers of all ages across the borough. Their self-care toolkit is packed with practical advice on sleep, nutrition, hydration, and stress management, and highlights local opportunities to support carers’ physical and mental health. All services are free and tailored to individual needs, helping carers maintain their own wellbeing while managing their caring responsibilities.
Alongside emotional support and information, Carers Trust Solihull can arrange a Carer’s Assessment—carried out in partnership with Solihull Council—which explores how caring impacts all areas of life and results in a bespoke support plan. This might include signposting to physical activity, peer support groups, respite opportunities, specialist health checks, and workshops on topics such as healthy living or managing stress. Carers can also access one-to-one conversations for reassurance and practical help, ensuring no carer feels isolated or unsupported.
The service also offers direct connections to wellbeing activities through Solihull Active and other local health and public health partners. Carers are encouraged to engage with these resources at their own pace, and feedback from the local community directly shapes future support initiatives and strategies.
Learn more about Carers Trust Solihull’s Health & Wellbeing Support Hub
The Care Act 2014 gives all adult carers in England the right to a free carer’s assessment from their local authority if they appear to need support—no minimum amount of care or eligibility criteria apply.
This assessment considers all aspects of the carer’s wellbeing: emotional, physical, social, and economic. If eligible, carers must receive a written support plan and may be entitled to a personal budget and direct payments to fund tailored support. Councils must provide advocacy for carers who struggle to engage in the assessment process and have no one else to support them.
A Carer’s Assessment looks at your needs as an unpaid carer and the impact of your caring role, including the practical and emotional support you provide. It also considers the impact on activities outside the care you provide such as your work, education, training and other activities as well as your mental and physical health.
Don’t be put off by the word ‘assessment’. It is not to test how good you are at caring, and you won’t be judged.
Parity of esteem means carers’ needs must be recognised and valued on an equal footing with those they care for—this is a core principle of the Care Act 2014 in England. Councils have legal duties to ensure carers are not treated as a secondary concern, but as individuals entitled to independent support, assessment, and wellbeing planning in their own right, regardless of the eligibility or situation of the person being cared for.
Councils must provide a free, accessible, and up-to-date information and advice service for all carers—regardless of whether they receive or request social care.
Information must cover carers’ rights, wellbeing, prevention, local services, crisis support, options for managing caring, benefit entitlements, advocacy, and financial planning.
The duty goes beyond simple online provision; councils are required to make sure information reaches all groups, including those less likely to seek help, and is available at key ‘trigger points’ such as when caring begins, changes, or reaches crisis.
Carers should always be offered real choice and control: eligible carers must get a support plan and a personal budget, and can choose to take direct payments (all or part) to buy their own support in the way that suits them best.
Councils have to recognise carers as experts in their own lives, actively involving them in support planning and embodying a person-centred approach that places carers’ wishes, beliefs, and outcomes at the centre of every decision.
Councils must promote carer wellbeing proactively—not only in crisis or when needs escalate.
Support planning, wellbeing promotion, and information must address all domains of life (physical, mental, economic, social, home, dignity, work, education).
Where carers struggle to take part in assessments or planning, councils have a statutory duty to provide independent advocacy.
Learn more about Parity of Esteem (The Care Act 2014 Handy Guide)
Carers have a right to be involved in hospital discharge and aftercare planning, ensuring their views are heard about whether they can provide care when someone is leaving hospital. If statutory duties are not met—by local authorities, health services, or care providers—carers can make formal complaints and should be supported through this process.
Learn more about Hospital Discharges and Coming Out of Hospital
Putting a power of attorney in place can offer peace of mind by giving someone trusted the legal authority to manage financial, property, and medical decisions if a person is no longer able to make them independently. This legal tool, called a lasting power of attorney (LPA), is available to anyone aged 18 or over with the mental capacity to make their own decisions. The person who appoints someone else is known as the “donor,” and the appointed person is the “attorney.” Multiple attorneys can be named, acting either jointly or independently, depending on preferences.
There are two main types of LPA: one for property and financial affairs, and another for health and welfare. Property LPAs can involve managing bank accounts, bills, and even arranging the sale of property, while health and welfare LPAs relate to care, medical choices, and day-to-day life. All LPAs must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before use and can be applied for online. It’s also possible to cancel or change an LPA if circumstances or wishes change. Setting up both types is recommended, and support is available through solicitors or advice lines if needed.
At Carers Trust Solihull, we offer workshops for our carers to come and speak with the great legal minds of our long-time friends Sydney Mitchell Solicitors, about LPA, Wills and more. You can find our next workshop by checking out “What’s On” with our Newsletter and/or Events Calendar, found here.
Learn more with Tips For Carers — Power of Attorney (Carers UK)
Learn more about Lasting Power of Attorney (Sydney Mitchell Solicitors)
Listen to Carers Talk — “Sydney Mitchell – Power of Attorney”
Making a will is the most reliable way to ensure that a person’s wishes for their assets, property, and loved ones are respected after death. Without a will, estates are distributed by default legal rules—which may mean property goes to distant relatives or, if none are found, to the Crown, rather than to close friends or favourite charities. A properly drafted will simplifies the process for those left behind and helps avoid family disputes. Several Solihull-based services, including specialist will writers and local solicitors, offer professional advice and fixed-fee options for will writing, estate planning, and trust set-up, giving individuals peace of mind that their affairs are in order.
When someone dies, their estate must still be managed, often requiring a legal grant of probate (if there’s a will) or letters of administration (without a will). This process ensures assets are collected, debts paid, and inheritance passed on as directed. Trusts—set up during your lifetime or by your will—can provide tax efficiency and added security for loved ones, especially where there are complex family circumstances or a need to protect assets long-term. For full advice and support, it’s a good idea to speak with a qualified will writing or probate professional in Solihull.
Learn more about Wills with Sydney Mitchell Solicitors
Learn more about Making a Will (Carers Trust)
Listen to Carers Talk — “Sydney Mitchell – Let’s Talk About Wills”
Young carers (aged 5–18) and young adult carers (16–25) in Solihull are protected both by strong legal rights and a comprehensive support system tailored to their needs. Key British legislation—namely, the Care Act 2014, Children and Families Act 2014, and Human Rights Act 1998—requires that local authorities must proactively identify young carers, offer them proper assessments, and deliver support that safeguards their health, development, and wellbeing. Safeguarding is at the heart of this framework, obliging services to protect children from harm, prevent inappropriate caring roles, and ensure safe, nurturing environments for every young person.
Carers Trust Solihull provides a wide range of practical support, beginning with a personalised assessment and continuing through bespoke support plans covering health, education, work, social life, and emotional wellbeing. Young carers are given a Carer’s Card for emergency identification and to unlock discounts and local opportunities. Support includes one-to-one emotional guidance, friendly meetups, peer mentoring, activity days, respite breaks, and help with navigating education and employment—for example, CV skills and interview training. The focus is on empowering young people while ensuring involvement from social services only when safeguarding demands it.
Solihull’s approach—anchored in national rights and local practice—ensures that young carers are heard, respected, and enabled to thrive, never left in isolation or with undue responsibility.
A young carer assessment is a supportive conversation that gives young carers in Solihull a chance to talk about their caring role, how it impacts their day-to-day life, and what kind of help might make things easier. The assessment aims to ensure young carers are not expected to take on inappropriate or excessive tasks and that decisions affecting them take their needs into account. It looks at the type and amount of help they give, how caring affects their health, wellbeing, education, and social life, and considers the support needs of the whole family. If eligible, the local authority must provide support; even if not, advice and some help may still be available.
Young carers in Solihull can ask for an assessment themselves, and it’s usually carried out by a support worker or professional the young carer feels comfortable with. Assessments are tailored to each carer—covering things like emergency plans, breaks from caring, and the balance between caring and other aspects of life. Young carers can choose to have someone they trust join them for support, and they are given a copy of their assessment and support plan. Young carer assessments are reviewed regularly and continue as the young person approaches adulthood, with transition support available for young adult carers.
Schools in England are required by law to identify and support young carers, recognising the unique challenges they face and ensuring they have equal access to education and wellbeing opportunities. A whole-school approach is recommended, with clear policies and regular staff training to spot the signs of young caring—such as tiredness, lateness, or falling behind with work—and to offer proactive support. Schools are encouraged to designate a “young carer lead” or “champion” who coordinates identification, provides confidential help to young carers, and acts as a link to local services and support networks.
Best practice guidance, including the Young Carers in Schools (YCiS) programme—led nationally by Carers Trust and The Children’s Society—helps schools create a supportive environment for young carers. The programme offers step-by-step guidance, practical tools, and professional development resources, and recognises schools through the Young Carers in Schools Award. Through YCiS and local initiatives like Carers Trust Solihull, schools are supported with training, peer mentor schemes, group activities, and robust policies to boost early identification, reduce stigma, and make sure young carers know who to turn to. Reasonable adjustments—such as flexible deadlines, permission to use a phone during the day, or a quiet place to rest—can be put in place to help young carers fulfil their potential and prevent isolation.
Collaboration with families, local authorities, NHS teams, and voluntary services—alongside access to assessments and tailored support—ensures young carers’ needs are understood and met throughout their school careers. By participating in the YCiS programme and adopting a whole-school commitment, educational settings in Solihull and beyond can ensure young carers are visible, valued, and empowered both in and out of the classroom.
Learn more about Keeping Children Safe in School
Learn more about the Young Carers in School
Programme (YCiS) here and here
Around one in five secondary school students is estimated to be a young carer, though official school census data in 2024 showed that only 0.6% of pupils (about 53,976 nationally) were recorded as young carers—a significant under-identification likely due to low awareness and inconsistent recording practices in schools. The Young Carers in Schools (YCiS) programme, led by Carers Trust and The Children’s Society, provides a structured approach for schools to better identify, support, and celebrate young carers, addressing this gap and advocating for best practice.
Schools that participate in YCiS demonstrate their commitment through clear, manageable steps—guided by comprehensive tools, templates, webinars, and professional development. They can earn the national Young Carers in Schools Award or the advanced Award Plus, both built around five standards: Understand, Inform, Identify, Listen, and Support. Schools with the Award record much higher identification rates—in 2024, 2.3% of pupils at awarded schools were identified as young carers, almost four times the rate of schools without the Award. Most schools say that earning the Award increases staff knowledge, confidence, and the number of young carers identified, contributing to improved attendance, wellbeing, and engagement.
Applying for the Award requires schools to evidence their efforts—often through photos, documentation, and tracking young carer numbers. The Award is valid for three years, and schools report progress to maintain recognition and continually improve. Access to the step-by-step guide and application resources makes it straightforward for schools to get started and prioritise young carers as a key vulnerable group.
Learn more about the Young Carers in School Programme here and here
Parent carers in Solihull—those looking after a child under 18 with a disability, neurodiverse condition, or mental health need—can access a wide range of free, tailored support through Carers Trust Solihull. Registering brings access to a Carer’s Card, which offers emergency identification and discounts or reduced rates at local attractions. Parent carers benefit from a variety of events and activities, from family day trips and cinema outings, to coffee mornings and special relaxation sessions like massage or reflexology. Many opportunities are inclusive, allowing carers to bring the person they care for along when possible, and some sessions are designed specifically for parent carers.
Carers Trust Solihull also provides in-depth training and workshops on topics crucial to family life, including EHCP/SEND navigation, transitions to adult services, stress management, benefits and financial planning, contingency planning, and more. Parent carers can find peer support through monthly meetups and links to local SEN groups or Facebook communities, fostering connections and reducing isolation. Useful advice on education—such as accessing the local SENDIAS (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Information Advice & Support) service, IPSEA, and other resources—ensures parent carers are well-equipped to help their children thrive. Everything is coordinated to be accessible and welcoming, with an events calendar and e-newsletters helping carers stay connected and informed.
A Parent Carers Assessment in Solihull is a supportive process designed to put your needs—both physical and emotional—at the centre of the discussion. This assessment offers dedicated time and space to explore how your caring responsibilities affect your health, family life, daily routines, and overall wellbeing. It’s an opportunity to consider what positive changes you might want, from getting more time for yourself or breaks from caring, to accessing new support networks or resources.
After the assessment, a tailored Support Plan is created, detailing which services and resources can best help with your specific priorities—these may include a mix of universal services for all parent carers and those unique to your family’s situation. The process is personalised and designed so you can work through the options at your own pace. Recent feedback in Solihull shows this approach is valued: 99% of parents were happy with their assessment, and 95% found it helpful in gaining information about available support and feeling less isolated.
Carers Trust Solihull provides a free and easy-to-use Carer’s Contingency Plan service, helping unpaid carers prepare for emergencies or unexpected “what if” situations. By creating a simple back-up (or emergency) plan, carers can ensure that the person they care for will continue to have their needs met if the main carer is suddenly unavailable due to illness, accident, or another urgent issue.
The service offers downloadable templates, an online plan builder, and guidance on what to include—covering emergency contacts, medication lists, care routines, and key information that others might need to provide safe, consistent care. Carers are encouraged to discuss their plan with family, friends, trusted neighbours, and professionals, sharing copies or letting people know where to find the plan in a hurry. Regular updates to the plan are recommended so that it remains accurate and useful.
Using a contingency plan not only brings peace of mind to carers but also helps emergency services, social care teams, and replacement carers act quickly and effectively in a crisis. Carers Trust Solihull’s approach means every carer can feel better prepared and supported, no matter what the future brings.
Learn more about Contingency Planning and Build Your Own Plan
Unpaid carers often juggle immense everyday pressures, yet taking care of their own mental health is absolutely essential—both for themselves and those they support. Carers Trust Solihull recognises that emotional wellbeing is not a luxury, but a crucial foundation for resilience, healthy relationships, and effective care during both day-to-day life and unforeseen emergencies. Through a dedicated mental health support hub, unpaid carers can access free resources, self-soothing techniques, healthy eating guidance, practical workshops, and regular confidential support to help manage stress and carve out time for self-care.
This support network extends well beyond crisis management. It includes opportunities for relaxation and peer connection, guided advice on wellbeing routines, and access to free online therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Should a crisis arise, 24/7 helplines and in-person drop-ins offer immediate guidance. Whether facing exhaustion, anxiety, or simply seeking guidance, unpaid carers in Solihull will find compassionate, expert help that empowers them to act early, prepare contingency plans, and feel valued in their vital role within families and the wider community.
The Community Advice Hubs are friendly, one-stop centres for adults and carers to get high-quality advice and easy access to a wide range of local services. Run by Age UK Solihull in partnership with voluntary groups, they help with care, disability needs, benefits, debt, employment, housing, legal issues, health and leisure, and more. Hubs are located in Chelmsley Wood Library and Solihull town centre, open weekdays with drop-in access.
Here2Help is Solihull Council’s gateway to practical support for all residents, providing free information and advice on food, fuel, money, housing, wellbeing, and staying safe. It connects people to help in a crisis, Community Advice Hubs, Family Hubs, and a wide range of council and voluntary sector support, making it easier to access help at any life stage or difficulty.
Adult Social Care Services in Solihull are available to adults aged 18 and over who need help with daily living due to age, illness, or disability. Services include information, short- and long-term care at home, residential care, assessments, carer support, direct payments, and safeguarding. Anyone can self-refer or get advice through Solihull Connect or the council’s dedicated adult social care contact points.
Children’s Social Care (SEND) supports children and young people under 18 with learning disabilities, physical or sensory impairments, chronic/life-limiting conditions, and additional needs. The SEND Local Offer provides information, guidance, and family support—including tailored planning, assessment, respite, and early help for carers and families, with a collaborative approach emphasised throughout Solihull.
The Community Advice Hubs are friendly, one-stop centres for adults and carers to get high-quality advice and easy access to a wide range of local services. Run by Age UK Solihull in partnership with voluntary groups, they help with care, disability needs, benefits, debt, employment, housing, legal issues, health and leisure, and more. Hubs are located in Chelmsley Wood Library and Solihull town centre, open weekdays with drop-in access.
The Community Advice Hubs are friendly, one-stop centres for adults and carers to get high-quality advice and easy access to a wide range of local services. Run by Age UK Solihull in partnership with voluntary groups, they help with care, disability needs, benefits, debt, employment, housing, legal issues, health and leisure, and more. Hubs are located in Chelmsley Wood Library and Solihull town centre, open weekdays with drop-in access.
Learn more about Birmingham and Solihull Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
The Carers Talk Podcast is a free, accessible audio resource created for unpaid carers of all ages. It shares practical advice, up-to-date information, and real-life experiences to help support carers wherever and whenever they need it. The podcast features expert guests and carer voices on a wide variety of topics—from navigating end-of-life care to understanding available support—making it a “carers’ meet-up in your pocket.” Episodes are available on all major platforms and through YouTube with captions for those who are hard of hearing. The series aims to bring support directly to carers, especially those unable to attend in-person sessions.
