By Matthew McKenzie – Chair of the South London MH carers forum
Another month has passed, and I would like to thank everyone who joined our South London Mental Health Carers Forum. It was fantastic to welcome carers, NHS professionals, voluntary sector organisations and local authority representatives from across South London to discuss issues affecting unpaid mental health carers.
As always, the forum provides a safe place where carers can raise concerns directly with decision makers, hear about new developments, share experiences and help shape improvements across mental health services.
By Matthew McKenzie – Chair of ethnic mental health carer forum.
For my latest spoken word video, “Today I Prayed,” I present a piece from my PCREF poetry collection that I am working on, Unpaid, Unseen and Yet Unbroken.
Grounded in the spirit of the Patient Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF), this poem centers on the often hidden realities faced by unpaid Black mental health carers.
The poem explores spirituality not just as a source of private comfort and endurance, but as a solitary lifeline when formal systems fail and the heavy emotional weight of duty takes its toll.
I think watching this video is an invitation to witness the quiet strength of minority carers, plus raise awareness of systemic gaps in our care frameworks.
I hope the poem ensures that these vital carer voices are finally seen, heard, and respected.
By Matthew McKenzie – Chair of Carers Hospital Discharge group
Thanks to everyone who attended our July Hospital Carer Discharge Meeting. We welcomed representatives from NHS trusts, local authorities, carers organisations, Healthwatch, and voluntary sector partners from across London. As always, the purpose of the meeting was to share developments, learn from each other’s work, and strengthen collaboration to improve hospital experiences and discharge planning for unpaid carers.
Although every organisation is at a different stage of development, one message came through very clearly: supporting unpaid carers is becoming an increasingly important priority across hospitals, councils and the NHS.
A Strong Focus on Earlier Carer Identification
One of the recurring themes throughout the meeting was the importance of identifying carers as early as possible during a patient’s hospital journey.
Many hospitals continue to recognise that carers are often identified too late—sometimes only when discharge is already taking place. Earlier identification allows staff to:
By Matthew McKenzie – Carers UK ambassador / Chair of National ethnic mental health carers forum
Are you a Black unpaid carer supporting a family member with a learning disability (sometimes referred to as an intellectual disability) who has experienced mental health difficulties?
Have you ever tried to access mental health support on their behalf? This could include contacting services such as Community Learning Disability Teams, CAMHS, Community Mental Health Teams, Talking Therapies or other mental health services.
If so, your experiences matter.
Lauren Heath, a second-year Trainee Clinical Psychologist at the University of Southampton, is conducting doctoral research exploring the experiences of Black carers who have accessed, or attempted to access, mental health support for a family member with a diagnosed learning disability.
We know that Black unpaid carers often face additional challenges when trying to navigate health and social care systems. Too often, their experiences are unheard or underrepresented in research. This study aims to better understand those experiences and help inform more culturally sensitive and inclusive services in the future.
You may be eligible to take part if you:
Identify as Black.
Have significant caring responsibilities for a family member with a diagnosed learning disability (or intellectual disability).
Have accessed, or attempted to access, mental health services on their behalf.
Taking part will involve:
A confidential interview lasting approximately 1.5 hours via Microsoft Teams.
Your responses will be anonymised once all interviews have been completed.
You will receive a voucher to thank you for your time and contribution.
Lauren previously worked within Community Learning Disability Teams across the UK and became interested in understanding why so few Black families appeared to be accessing these services. Her doctoral research hopes to amplify the voices of Black carers and contribute towards improving culturally sensitive support for families in the future.
If you think this research may apply to you, or someone you know, please consider taking part or sharing this opportunity within your networks.
To find out if you are eligible, you can complete the short questionnaire or contact Lauren directly at L.Heath@soton.ac.uk.
Your lived experience could help shape future services for Black families and carers.
By Matthew McKenzie – Triangle of Care – Community group chair
Putting Carers at the Centre of Care
The latest Triangle of Care Community Group brought together carers, professionals and partner organisations from across England to share learning, celebrate progress and identify where further improvements are needed. The meeting highlighted the growing influence of the Triangle of Care across mental health and acute services, whilst reinforcing that there is still much work to do to ensure carers are consistently recognised, valued and supported.
One of the most powerful aspects of the meeting was hearing directly from carers about their experiences. Whilst many spoke positively about the progress that has been made over recent years, there was a shared view that carer involvement remains inconsistent across services.
By Matthew McKenzie – NHS England involvement, Chair of National ethnic mental health carer forum
As carers, your voices are the most powerful tools we have to change how healthcare is delivered. Every day, you navigate complex systems to support your loved ones, seeing firsthand what works and crucially where the gaps are.
Right now, NHS England’s Office of the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) is developing its next big strategy: The AHP Framework for System Impact for England (2027–2032). Because this strategy is built on the core values of anti-racism, co-production, and sustainability, it is absolutely vital that ethnic minority mental health carers are at the center of this conversation.
By Matthew McKenzie – Carer and Carers UK Ambassador
As unpaid carers, many of us know what it feels like to operate in the background. We juggle complex health systems, care for our loved ones, and manage our own lives, all too often feeling invisible.
That is why I am excited to share a major milestone for our community.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), alongside the Departments for Education, Business and Trade, and Work and Pensions has officially launched the Unpaid Carers Action Plan: Recognize, Refer, Reach.
This is England’s first-ever cross-government action plan dedicated entirely to supporting unpaid carers.
I was honored to attend the official launch event to represent our community, meet with Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock MP, and participate in the official DHSC launch video.
This isn’t just another policy document; it is a commitment across multiple government sectors to drive real, practical change.
The plan is built around three core pillars:
1. Recognise
Carers must be identified early. One of the most exciting digital updates is a new “MyCarer” section being introduced on the NHS App, allowing us to easily register our caring role so healthcare staff know who we are from the start.
2. Refer
No carer should have to navigate the system alone. This pillar focuses on making sure we are directed to local carer centres, financial advice, and emotional support early on. Crucially, it aims to ensure we are formally included in major healthcare decisions, like hospital discharge planning.
3. Reach
Caring shouldn’t mean giving up on your own future. For working carers, the plan explores paid carer’s leave and will require large employers (250+ staff) to publish carer support plans from spring 2027. For young carers, it means stronger support within schools so their education doesn’t suffer.
A Message to My Fellow Carers and Carer Centres
For years, we have argued that caring is not just a “health” issue, it impacts our jobs, our education, our finances, and our mental health. Seeing four government departments finally come together to address I feel is a massive step forward.
To my fellow unpaid carers: Please know that using your voice gives you a chance at being heard. It is important to get carers “on the map” to be recognised, and this plan is a direct result of carers sharing their lived experiences.
To Carer Centres and Forums: This action plan is a powerful tool for us. It gives us a framework to hold local services accountable and ensure the “Recognise, Refer, Reach” goals are delivered on the ground.
Of course change doesn’t happen overnight, but this plan gives us a vital foundation to build on. Let’s keep pushing, keep connecting, and make sure every single unpaid carer gets the recognition and support they deserve.
A fantastic new opportunity from King’s College London is inviting unpaid carers and members of the public to capture these experiences through photography.
Free Online Photography Workshops
Whether you’ve never taken a photograph beyond snapping pictures on your phone or you already enjoy photography, these free online workshops are designed for everyone.
You’ll learn how to:
Use your smartphone to take more meaningful photographs.
This week (6–12 July) marks Alcohol Awareness Week 2026, organised by Alcohol Change UK. This year’s theme, “Alcohol and Me,” encourages us to take a moment to reflect on our own relationship with alcohol and the impact it can have on our health, mental wellbeing, relationships and everyday lives.
For many unpaid carers supporting someone with a mental health condition, life can be emotionally demanding. While we often focus on the person we care for, it’s just as important to look after our own wellbeing. This campaign reminds us that seeking support, talking openly and making small positive changes can make a real difference.
To support this important awareness week, I’ve created a new video on my YouTube channel, A Caring Mind, exploring why Alcohol Awareness Week matters, particularly for carers and families affected by mental ill health.
If this post resonates with you, please share the video to help raise awareness, reduce stigma and remind carers that their wellbeing matters too.
By Matthew McKenzie – Chair of Cancer Caregiver group
Supporting a loved one through a cancer diagnosis is a journey that often goes unseen. Family members, partners, friends, and other caregivers provide emotional support, help navigate appointments, and stand alongside patients during one of the most challenging periods of their lives. Yet their experiences are rarely heard.
Researchers at University College London (UCL) are inviting people who have supported someone with endometrial (womb) cancer to take part in a research study exploring the cancer diagnostic journey. The study is particularly interested in hearing from people who have supported women experiencing economic hardship, as well as Black women, who are more likely to be diagnosed with endometrial cancer at a later stage, when treatment can be more difficult.
Your Story Matters
Every caregiver’s experience provides valuable insight into the challenges people face before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis. By sharing your story, you can help researchers better understand the barriers to timely diagnosis and identify ways to improve support for future patients and their families.
