Our work to amplify the voices of carers
Carers In Bedfordshire
Amplifying the voices of carers
Since adopting our strategy to amplify the voice of carers in September 2024, we have
- continued to facilitate the Carers Panel
- co-produced projects with the Carers Panel
- strengthened the Carer Voice network
- conducted and published Carers survey
- promoted a wide range of participation opportunities to carers
- advised partners on involving carers in their work
Activity Sept 2024 - Dec 2025
Carers Panel
The Panel is made up of around 15 – 20 members with lived experience of caring from a wide variety of backgrounds – all acting in the best interests of the charity.
The Panel is an advisory forum and a formal part of our governance structure.
From Sept 2024 to Dec 2025, it has
- held four meetings and sent an observer to each Board meeting
- an average attendance of 9.5 per meeting
- Considered topics on – adult social care, carers survey, MP engagement, GP carer identification, engagement and participation policy
Carer Conference – 20 years of caring
A Panel member shared a platform with the CEO of the Integrated Care Board to speak about Carer Voice at this 20th anniversary flagship event looking back on key changes for carers and how carers can affect change over the coming 20 years.
A Panel member ran the Carer Voice stand to sign up new members
The conference was attended by 120 people, including local councillors, health and social care professionals and voluntary sector colleagues
Submission to Parliamentary enquiry on social care
Six Panel members contributed to a joint submission to this enquiry looking at the costs of inaction, sharing detailed accounts of their experiences of adult social care – the financial costs, the effect of their own health and their views on what needs to change.
Our submission was published and the section on carers was introduced with a quote from our submission
Campaign themes
A working group of four Panel members, co-produced content for the Campaign with us section of the website, to align with our Moving Forward for Change long-term strategy and the findings from the carers survey.
Carers survey
The survey is conducted every two years. In 2025, 687 carers took the time to share their thoughts and tell us about their caring roles.
The Panel participated in the design of key questions, added questions and tested the survey.
Members considered the initial report on the findings at a Board strategy meeting and contributed a collective Comment in the final report.
Members shared the report at a Parliamentary round table and have distributed it to local MPs
Carer forum Leighton Buzzard
Four Members planned and delivered this forum to take the Panel on the road. The aim was to share the survey report, address expressed concerns about the reduced offer in the town and recruit more Carer Voice members.
21 carers attended, three signing up for Carer Voice. Carers shared how they have already spoken up to MPs, GPs and others
Additional work
- Design of the Carer Voice brand
- Featured in the 2024/25 annual report video
- Feedback on the Engagement and Participation policy
- Attended the Westminster Carol Service at the invitation of the Lord Lieutenant
Carer Voice
Carer Voice is a way that carers are heard and help shape a system that works better for them and the people they care for.
We have given carers the platform, tools and time to have their voice heard by the right people at the right time.
Fifty carers are members, with a range of caring roles across Bedford and Central Bedfordshire, broadly reflecting the cohort of registered carers
Our work since Sept 2024 –
- Sent out participation opportunities from more than 13 agencies wanting to hear from carers – either for a single project or an ongoing joint piece of work
- Covered a wide range of topics from adult social care or curriculum input to resource packs and bus surveys
- Ran a workshop on You and Parliament
- Facilitated two online Carer Voice MeetUps
- Facilitated a Staff carers group
Register With Us
By registering with us as a carer you will get access to a whole range of services, including advice, information, access to our groups, events and carers grants.
Need To Talk To Someone?
You can book a call with one of our support workers and talk to them about any of your concerns.
