By Matthew McKenzie – Founder of A Caring Mind, unpaid carer, and advocate for ethnic minority carers

This October 2025, I had the privilege of joining Carers Support West Sussex to speak during their Black History Month celebrations under the theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride.”

Carers Support West Sussex provides advice, emotional support, and practical help to unpaid carers across the county of West Sussex, ensuring they are recognised, valued, and empowered in their caring roles. Their work helps thousands of carers connect with the right information, resources, and community networks when it matters most.

As a Black, unpaid carer of lived experience, I spoke about Race, Inequality, and Carer Voices exploring how racism and structural inequality continue to shape the experiences of carers from ethnic minority backgrounds.

A fair bit of my presentation was taken from my book “Race, Caring and Mental Health”

Many of us carry the dual pressures of caring for loved ones while navigating systems that weren’t designed with us in mind. I also spoke about Patient Carer Race Equality Framework and how the carer centre could engage with Sussex Partnership Mental Health trust regarding triangle of care and PCREF.

This will lead to exciting updates for November’s National Ethnic Carers forum

Black History Month is about progress, justice, and healing. It’s about recognising the strength of carers of colour who, through love, faith, and community, keep families and traditions alive. Our caring is a continuation of a story that’s centuries old, which is one of survival, solidarity, and hope.

Supporting with Carers Support West Sussex reminded me how vital it is for organisations to listen, learn, and co-produce with communities. When services reflect our cultural realities, carers feel seen and supported.

Here is a bit of my poem from my presentation.

“Through history we care,
We continue the stories our elders began,
Hearts filled with hope, hands that care if we can.”

Black History Month is a celebration, but it’s also a call to action. Let’s continue to stand firm in power, pride, and purpose together.

You can find out more from West Sussex Carers Black History Month event from their website below.

https://www.carerssupport.org.uk/2025/10/21/power-and-pride/