A highlight of the week was our Connection and Celebration Event, co-hosted with Carers UK at The Fircroft Trust in Surbiton. Over one hundred people joined us for a day of conversation, connection and recognition. We were privileged to be joined by Ed Davey MP, Alison Bennett MP and Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK.

Carers of all ages had the opportunity to hear from and speak with them, sharing the realities of caring - from the challenges and pressures to the moments of pride and fulfilment - and discussing what can be done to create truly carer-friendly communities.

The event also included creative activities, games and a lucky dip made possible by the generosity of local businesses who donated a range of fantastic prizes.

One carer shared with us that it was “the best day of their year so far” - a wonderful reflection of what the week has been all about.

Throughout the week, we also focused on helping more carers to be recognised and supported. We launched our new Local Health Professionals Toolkit, designed to help healthcare staff identify unpaid carers, understand the impact of caring and connect carers with local support.

We wrote to every GP practice in the borough and hand delivered information packs, leaflets and posters to practices across Kingston. Several surgeries are now displaying our resources on waiting room screens and self-check-in systems, helping more carers learn about the support available to them.

Young carers were also at the heart of the week. Our Young Carers team visited King’s Oak Primary School in New Malden to deliver an assembly exploring what caring responsibilities can look like for children and young people.

Two pupils shared their own experiences as young carers, helping bring the message to life for their peers. We are incredibly grateful to the school for supporting our work through a fundraising mufti day, which has raised an incredible £641.

Alongside this awareness-raising work, carers were able to access practical advice, information and wellbeing opportunities.

Our Benefits and Tribunal Representative hosted a Benefits and Lasting Power of Attorney Open Day, supporting carers with topics including Universal Credit and future planning. We were delighted to help complete two Lasting Power of Attorney applications from start to finish during the day.

Carers also came together at a coffee morning co-hosted with Your Healthcare CIC and were able to access a health and wellbeing check drop-in session with Kathy Wong, Health Engagement Officer at Kingston Voluntary Action.

Adult carers then enjoyed free beauty and wellbeing treatments kindly offered by Kingston College Beauty Therapy students, while our Young Carers Resilience and Peer Support Group took part in a special yoga session with Rebekah Arkle from All Shapes Yoga.

Our Youth Group were delighted to be joined by two artists, Jamal Mansaray and Muhammad Hassan, who supported the group to explore painting, poetry and Japanese calligraphy around the theme of belonging, support and inclusion as young carers.

We rounded off the week with a social picnic at Hampton Court Palace, giving carers the chance to enjoy the surroundings and strengthen the connections that are so important when caring can sometimes feel isolating.

Thank you to every carer, partner, volunteer and supporter who took part in Carers Week and helped make it such a success. By working alongside local people and organisations, we hope to continue building a more carer-friendly Kingston where every carer feels seen, heard and supported.

We would also like to thank Sorrento Restaurant, Hampton Court Palace Music Festival organisers MARI Group, Hollywood Bowl Tolworth, Health by Serena, Historic Royal Palaces and The Entertainer Kingston for generously donating prizes for our Connection and Celebration Event.