We all know how challenging the life of a carer can be, especially when it involves the emotional and physical toll of supporting a loved one through difficult health challenges. Christine’s powerful story of navigating her loved one’s mental health and recovery through the fears of mental health system discharge.
In Christine’s latest podcast, “From Carer to Mum” she opens up about her personal journey, sharing the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from the role of a carer back to simply being a mum. Over the course of two years, Christine witnessed her loved one’s growth and recovery, which was made possible through the right care, support, and therapy.
Christine’s story focuses about overcoming struggles; plus about rediscovering joy and a new sense of normalcy.
Now, Christine has taken the next step in sharing her journey. She’s launched her own podcast, where she’ll continue to inspire others by sharing her experiences, reflections, and insights into caregiving, recovery, and the journey of moving forward.
Tune into Christine’s new podcast channel, where you’ll hear more about the highs and lows of caring for a loved one, as well as the emotional lessons learned along the way. The first episode, titled “Christine’s Journey: From Carer to Mum,” is already live on SoundCloud and is ready for you to listen.
Caring for a child or young person can be incredibly rewarding – but it can also feel overwhelming, especially when you’re worried about their emotional wellbeing or safety. If you’re an unpaid carer in Ealing supporting a young person, you’re not alone, and there is local support available for you.
This spring, a new free online training opportunity is available for parents and unpaid carers in Ealing, designed to build confidence, understanding and hope when supporting young people who may be struggling.
Free Online Training: SPOT – Parents and Carers
PAPYRUS, the national charity for the prevention of young suicide, has been funded by Ealing Council to deliver SPOT: Parents and Carers – Connecting with Life and Creating Hope.
This training is specifically designed to support parents and unpaid carers to feel more confident in helping young people stay safe.
The sessions focus on:
Recognising signs that a child or young person may be struggling or experiencing suicidal thoughts
Developing confidence to talk openly and safely about suicide
Learning how to support safety planning alongside a young person
Understanding helpful language and common challenges in these conversations
Knowing where and how to access further support
The overall aim is to help carers feel better equipped to create safer spaces for young people and to strengthen connection, hope and understanding .
Online Training Dates
The SPOT sessions are delivered online, making them easier to attend around caring responsibilities. You can choose the date and time that works best for you:
12 March 2026 – 7:00pm to 8:30pm
18 March 2026 – 6:30pm to 8:00pm
26 March 2026 – 1:00pm to 2:30pm
The sessions are free to attend, but booking is required.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone: Ealing Carers Partnership
Alongside training opportunities like SPOT, unpaid carers in Ealing can access ongoing help through the Ealing Carers Partnership.
The partnership brings together local organisations to support unpaid carers of all ages, including parents and carers of children and young people. Support can include:
Information and advice
Emotional support and listening spaces
Help navigating services
Peer support and carer groups
Training and workshops to build skills and confidence
If you’re caring for someone without pay, whether that’s a child, young person, partner, friend or family member – you are recognised as an unpaid carer, and you are entitled to support.
The Ealing Carers Partnership works to make sure carers are seen, heard and supported across the borough, and can help you find the right service at the right time.
Many carers tell us that one of the hardest parts of supporting a young person is not knowing what to say, or worrying about saying the “wrong” thing. Training like SPOT is not about having all the answers, it’s about building confidence, understanding and connection.
If you are supporting a young person in Ealing and would like to strengthen your confidence, we strongly encourage you to take up this opportunity and to connect with the wider support available through the Ealing Carers Partnership.
If you have questions, need help accessing support, or would like to know more about what’s available for unpaid carers locally, please reach out on the link below
Caring for someone affected by cancer can be deeply meaningful—and incredibly demanding. Between appointments, medications, emotional support, and everyday life, caregivers often put their own needs last. Yet caregivers need care too.
That’s why Coffee & Connection exists: a welcoming, gentle space where caregivers can pause, breathe, and connect with others who truly understand.
You Don’t Have to Carry It Alone
As a cancer caregiver, you may find yourself holding many emotions at once, these being love, worry, exhaustion, hope, frustration, and resilience. While friends and family may care deeply, it can be hard to explain the realities of caregiving to someone who hasn’t lived it.
Coffee & Connection brings together people who get it.
This is a place to:
Share how cancer has impacted your life as a caregiver
Listen to others’ stories without judgment or pressure
Feel seen, heard, and supported
Simply enjoy a cup of coffee in good company
There’s no expectation to talk if you don’t want to. Sometimes, just being in the room with others who understand is enough.
A Warm, Caring Environment
Set in a relaxed café-style space, Coffee & Connection is designed to feel calm and human and not clinical. Where Conversations unfold naturally over tea and coffee, surrounded by warmth, greenery, and kindness.
Whether you are caring for a partner, parent, child, sibling, or friend at any stage of the cancer journey, you are welcome to attend.
When and Where
Every first and last Tuesday of the month 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Clapham Park, Cube 116 Kings Avenue London, SW4 8EP
Want to Know More?
If you’d like more information or want to check in before attending, you can reach out to:
Caregiving can feel isolating, but connection has the power to lighten the load. Coffee & Connection offers a gentle reminder that you are not alone, and that your experiences matter too.
If you’re a cancer caregiver looking for understanding, support, or simply a moment of calm, consider joining us. The coffee will be warm, and so will the welcome.
By Matthew McKenzie, facilitator of National ethnic mental health carers forum
Welcome to my first blog for 2026.
I am working on a new poetry project linked to my forum and poetry groups. This poem turned into song is written from the perspective of an unpaid ethnic mental health carer, and explores identity, pride, self-worth, and refusing shame in systems that don’t always listen or recognise lived experience.
The poem is taken from my forthcoming poetry book in development, Unpaid, Unseen and Yet Unbroken (due 2026), which centres the voices of ethnic mental health carers and aligns closely with the aims of PCREF (Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework), particularly around listening, inclusion, and lived experience shaping systems.
I’m using poetry and creative formats as another way to:
amplify carer voices
explore race and care with honesty
support conversations about equity, culture, and confidence in mental health services
If this resonates with your work, community, or organisation, please feel free to share. Listening is an act of care.
Matthew McKenzie FRSA BEM, poet and advocate for unpaid ethnic mental health carers, is inviting carers involved in NHS Trusts, PCREF (Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework), and Trust involvement registers to submit their poems for an upcoming 2026 poetry collection. This collection will spotlight minority carers’ voices and explore themes of race, culture, and lived experience in mental health care.
About the Poetry Collection
The collection will focus on amplifying minority carers’ experiences through poetry. It will be part of the paperback version of Matthew’s upcoming poetry book Unpaid, Unseen and Yet Unbroken and will include poems from carers all over the country. This is a unique opportunity for minority ethnic carers to have their voices heard and their stories shared on a national platform, contributing to the ongoing conversation about race equality, care, and mental health.
Why Should You Submit a Poem?
If you’re a minority carer or carers from underrepresented community, your voice matters. PCREF is committed to creating systemic change, and this collection will work alongside it to ensure that carers from minority communities are not left unheard. Submitting your poem gives you the chance to:
Raise awareness of the emotional, cultural, and psychological realities of being a carer.
Inspire others by sharing your lived experience.
Amplify minority voices within NHS Trusts, PCREF spaces, and mental health care systems.
Who Can Submit?
We welcome submissions from unpaid ethnic mental health carers who are:
Involved in NHS Trusts, PCREF, or trust involvement registers.
Attending ethnic mental health carer peer groups at carer centres
Interested in sharing their personal experiences and reflections through poetry.
How to Submit Your Poem:
Submit an original poem that reflects the emotional, cultural, and psychological realities of being an unpaid mental health carer.
Poems can focus on themes such as:
Emotional challenges of care
The hidden burden of caring
Resilience and survival
Navigating mental health services
Coping with racial and cultural barriers in care
Family dynamics in caregiving
Deadline for submissions is late April 2026.
Submission Guidelines:
Format: Poems can be submitted in Word, PDF, or plain text format.
Length: There is no strict length, but we recommend that submissions be no longer than 1 page.
Multiple submissions: You can submit more than one poem if desired.
Contact Information: Please include your full name, contact details along with your poem, so i can credit you. Unless you wish to be anonymous.
You can also reach out to Matthew directly if you have any questions about the submission process or the collection.
What Happens After You Submit?
Once submissions are received, I will review all entries and select poems that align with the themes of the collection. All selected poets will be notified and credited in the final publication.
Need Inspiration or Support?
If you’re unsure where to start or need some encouragement, consider reflecting on your personal journey as a carer. Think about moments where language failed to express your experience or times when your strength surprised you. Your story is valuable, and this collection is about lifting up voices that have often been overlooked.
Contact Information:
For any questions or additional information, please contact Matthew McKenzie:
This is your chance to raise awareness and inspire others by sharing your lived experiences through poetry. Help shape a future where minority carers are valued, heard, and recognized for the essential work they do. We look forward to reading your stories!
By Matthew Mckenzie – facilitator of national ethnic mental health carers forum
I’m pleased to share “Unpaid, Unseen and Yet Unbroken”, a spoken word poetry video that marks the first poem released from my forthcoming poetry collection of the same name.
This first poem speaks from within the lived reality of unpaid mental health carers, particularly those from ethnic and marginalised communities whose labour is often overlooked, misunderstood, or taken for granted. It reflects moments many carers will recognise: waiting rooms, misrecognition, quiet endurance, and the strength it takes to keep showing up without acknowledgement.
🎥 Watch the spoken word video here:
The wider collection I am currently working on brings together poems shaped by care, fatigue, love, resilience, and survival. It is a body of work rooted in lived experience and community voices, offering poetry not only as expression, but as witness and affirmation.
This first poem sets the tone for what is to come, promoting honest, reflective, and unapologetic in its call for carers to be seen, heard, and respected.
This work is part of my ongoing commitment through my A Caring Mind youtube channel to use creativity as a way to challenge stigma, amplify unheard voices, and centre care as a vital social contribution.
More poems from this collection will be shared in the coming months.
Caring for a loved one with a mental illness is a demanding, often under-recognized role. Many unpaid carers find themselves thrust into complex scenarios, navigating mental health crises, advocating for proper support, balancing their own wellbeing, and, too often, facing these challenges in isolation. While every carer’s journey is unique, a core set of resources can make a dramatic difference between feeling overwhelmed and finding sustainable ways to cope and thrive.
This article and video unpacks those essential resources through the lens of an experienced carer activist and carer, offering both a practical hierarchy of importance and actionable insights. Using a “tier list” as a framework, we’ll explore which resources are most urgent and why, how they fit together, and tips for navigating the labyrinth of mental health care.
To watch which resources are essential for mental health carers, watch the video below.
The Tiered Approach: Prioritizing Carers’ Needs
Resources for mental health carers can be overwhelming in scope from legal advice and crisis hotlines to financial support and practical training. To create clarity, resources are placed into four tiers:
S Tier (Essential): Survival-level supports; absolutely critical for continued caring and crisis management.
A Tier (Sustaining): Highly valuable resources that keep your caring role tenable in the long run.
B Tier (Enhancing): Important support systems that reduce daily strain and improve quality of life but aren’t as immediately pressing.
C Tier (Auxiliary): Long-term stability and planning; often overlooked but still necessary.
Let’s break down what falls into each tier and how you can access and leverage these resources effectively.
Carers: Unsung Heroes, Essential Supports
Mental health carers are the invisible backbone of the support system—shouldering enormous responsibility, often without recognition or adequate support. By focusing on these critical resources and prioritizing self-care as well as advocacy, carers can find greater resilience, confidence, and sustainability.
Remember, you are not alone. Whether you access support online, through local groups, or formal agencies, reach out, ask questions, and don’t accept “no” as the final answer when it comes to your rights and wellbeing. With the right resources and support system, caring for a loved one with mental illness can be not just a challenge to survive—but a journey where you both can thrive.
Our final Triangle of Care (ToC) Community Group meeting of the year brought together carers, professionals, and ToC members from across the UK to share updates, raise concerns, and discuss priorities for 2026 and beyond. Although Microsoft Teams provided some surprises, we made it work, thanks to teamwork and patience. The conversation was rich, heartfelt, and often very moving.
1. Opening & Agenda
As chair of the meeting, I acknowledged technical teething problems as the group used Teams for the first time in this format. Mary (ToC Programme Lead) welcomed attendees and explained the privacy-driven decision to hide email addresses, which also unfortunately hid attendees’ names. A fix will be implemented before the January meeting.
The agenda included:
Triangle of Care national updates (Mary)
Carer co-production and lived experience input (Matthew)
Surrey & Borders’ co-production example (postponed)
Research priority-setting presentation (Richard, University of Manchester)
Carer questions and discussion
2. Triangle of Care National Update (Mary)
Mary provided a comprehensive end-of-year update structured around ToC’s three priority areas for 2024–25.
2.1 Embedding the Relaunched Triangle of Care Framework
Growth & progress
16 new members have joined the scheme since April, bringing ToC membership to over 80.
The first Welsh hospital achieved a ToC Star Award, prompting the creation of a new Welsh-language logo and Welsh materials.
A social care pilot is underway with Livewell South West, with West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospital reviewing ToC criteria for an acute setting.
Nine Star Awards have been achieved this year, with a further 12 annual reviews approved. Many more annual reports are pending review before year-end.
Standardising data Mary emphasised the push for consistent reporting across Trusts, including:
numbers of carers identified
uptake of carer awareness training
numbers of carer champions
This will help build a national picture of impact.
Webinars ToC’s Lunch & Learn series continues, with the recent Carers Rights Day webinar (in partnership with University of Bristol) focusing on the Nearest Relative role under the Mental Health Act (MHA). Resources are available via Carers Trust’s YouTube channel.
2.2 Young Carers: Identification & Support
A major update was the successful national policy win relating to young carers and the Mental Health Act.
Mental Health Act Reform – Safety Net for Young Carers
Following campaigning by Carers Trust, the Young Carers Alliance, and ToC members who wrote to MPs:
Government has agreed to update the MHA Code of Practice to require:
identification of children when an adult is detained
sharing of information about available support
referrals for young carer needs assessments
Updates to advance choice documents will require practitioners to ask about dependent children.
Expected implementation: Summer 2026.
This win was warmly welcomed by the group.
2.3 Racially Minoritised Carers & PCREF
Mary updated members on ToC’s work to ensure carers are fully represented in the Patient & Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF).
Key updates
A national Task & Finish Group has now completed its review of the first four ToC standards; the final standard is underway.
Piloting of new culturally sensitive criteria is planned with 10 NHS Trusts beginning April 2026.
Example of early good practice: Livewell South West is implementing a new “essential data template” that includes carers, enabling services to better identify and support racially minoritised carers.
Carers Trust is calling for a statutory duty for NHS mental health providers to implement PCREF in full, including community governance.
2.4 Changing the Narrative on Care – New Research
Mary introduced new research (supported by the Health Foundation and Oxfam GB) titled Changing the Narrative on Care, highlighting:
Although 80% of the public value unpaid care, this does not translate into policy action or investment.
Three recommended reframes:
Care is a universal experience, not a niche issue.
No care without support, make support visible and tangible.
Care is a partnership between families, communities and systems—not something families must do alone.
The full report is available on Carers Trust’s website.
I then presented an in-depth reflection on the value of authentic carer involvement, drawing on his lived experience and his role working with multiple NHS organisations.
Key points included:
Carers are not passive observers, they hold critical lived knowledge that improves services.
Real co-production goes beyond consultation; carers must be equal partners in shaping policy, documentation, training, and strategic decisions.
Examples Matthew gave from his own involvement:
redesigning welcome packs and leaflets
addressing confidentiality misapplication
involvement in recruitment panels
delivering training to staff at induction
reviewing complaints and compliments themes
advising on discharge processes and family-inclusive safety protocols
participating in research steering groups
Carers’ insight is especially essential in safeguarding, quality boards, and identifying service gaps often invisible to professionals.
4. Surrey & Borders Co-Production Example
A planned presentation from Surrey & Borders was postponed, as the relevant colleague could not attend with materials. They hope to present at a future meeting.
5. Research Priority Setting in Secure & Forensic Mental Health (Richard Kears)
Richard introduced a national project with the James Lind Alliance (JLA) aiming to identify the top 10 research priorities for secure and forensic mental health services across England, Scotland and Wales.
Who is the survey for?
Carers
People with lived experience of secure/forensic services
Staff working in these services
Anyone indirectly connected (victims, families)
Purpose
To ensure future mental health research is led by the real concerns of those most affected, not only by academics or pharmaceutical interests.
Process
National survey gathering research questions.
Analysis to identify common themes.
Second, more focused survey to refine priorities.
National workshops with carers, staff and people with lived experience to finalise the top 10.
A QR code and flyer were shared for distribution. The group expressed strong support.
6. Attendee Discussion & Questions
This was the richest section of the meeting, with many heartfelt contributions. The themes below reflect the key concerns raised.
6.1 Scotland & UK-wide ToC Alignment
A carer asked why Scotland’s ToC framework is separate and not integrated into the UK ToC accreditation model. Mary explained:
Scotland currently uses ToC only as a free policy framework.
Implementing the accreditation model in Scotland would require groundwork to assess willingness and ability of providers to fund membership.
Integration is being discussed but is not imminent.
6.2 Clarity on Co-Production
Several carers voiced concerns that:
“Co-production” is often used as a buzzword.
Some NHS Trusts label work as co-produced after completing it.
Carers need clarity on what ToC means when using the term.
Mary responded that ToC uses a ladder of engagement, distinguishing:
carer engagement
carer involvement
full co-production
Carers Trust is developing a formal principles-based statement on involvement for future meetings.
6.3 Older Carers: Visibility, Support & Inequalities
The majority of carer questions focused on the unmet needs of older adult carers, many of whom are supporting people with severe mental illness—not dementia—and often have been caring 20–40 years.
Attendees reported:
Feeling “invisible” within both policy and services.
Being incorrectly grouped under “older carers = dementia”.
Their own poor health affecting their caring ability.
Increasing struggle to get responses from professionals.
Serious concerns about who will care for their loved ones when they die.
Feeling less heard as they age, compared with younger carers or newer voices.
One carer (age 78) shared:
“I can’t retire from caring. Benefits stop at 65, but the caring doesn’t.”
Another said:
“We have to shout louder as older women to be heard—and still we aren’t.”
Mary acknowledged the seriousness of these issues and committed to:
bringing older carers’ concerns into ongoing ToC work
exploring dedicated guidance and better mainstreaming within the ToC standards
sharing good practice on carer contingency planning in upcoming meetings
I also reiterated the group’s role in surfacing policy gaps and influencing future national lobbying.
6.4 Carer Registration & Meeting Access
Several carers raised issues with:
The length of the ToC sign-up form
Not receiving meeting links despite signing up
Verification barriers when joining Teams
Mary agreed to:
review and shorten the form
clarify which fields are optional
address email deliverability issues
adjust MS Teams settings to reduce joining friction while maintaining security
6.5 Concerns About Confidentiality Misuse
One carer reported that in a CQC meeting at an NHS Trust, raising questions about communication was dismissed as “confidentiality”, preventing meaningful dialogue. I then encouraged carers to bring such examples into:
ToC Star peer reviews
Carer involvement forums
Local advocacy routes
He noted that misuse of confidentiality is a common and unacceptable barrier and must be challenged.
6.6 Petition on Antipsychotic Medication Research
Carers highlighted concerns about:
long-term prescribing of antipsychotics
lack of regular medication review
inadequate research into long-term effects
A carer shared a petition calling for investigation of psychiatric medications. Richard noted that he had signed and shared it previously.
7. Closing Remarks
Matthew thanked all attendees for their honesty, passion and persistence:
“Carers’ voices shape policies and improve care. That is exactly what this group is here to do.”
Mary acknowledged:
the importance of every concern raised
the need to better support older carers
improvements to ToC communications and meeting accessibility
that the next meeting will be in January (provisionally 19th)
The meeting closed with gratitude from carers who said they felt heard, supported, and connected.
This week, we come together to recognise something deeply human, yet often hidden: grief and the people who carry it long after the world has moved on.
I’ve created a short video exploring the emotional reality of bereavement, with a special focus on unpaid carers. These are the people who quietly give their time, energy, and love to support someone through illness… and who are often left to grieve in silence when that journey ends.
My hope is that this helps spark conversations, reduce stigma, and remind anyone grieving that you are not alone.
If you or someone you know needs support, these organisations can help:
Let’s work together to make sure every bereaved person, especially unpaid carers so they is heard, supported, and understood. #GrowingWithGrief | #GriefSupport | #UnpaidCarers | #Wellbeing
On 4th December 2025, I had the privilege of attending the Service of Christmas Carols and Readings for Carers UK (for their 60th anniversary) at The King’s Chapel of the Savoy.
As many will know, Carers UK is a national charity that offers advice, information, and advocacy for unpaid carers, people who look after a family member or friend due to illness, disability, mental health challenges or frailty.
Their work is vital and ranges from campaigning for carers’ rights, to shaping policy, to providing emotional and practical support.
As someone who has spent years amplifying carers’ voices, and as someone who has been a carer myself, I always find moments like this grounding. They remind me that carers are so often hidden and deserve spaces of recognition, reflection, and community.
I couldnt capture the whole event, so a lot of it is from memory,
The King’s Chapel of the Savoy, with its royal heritage and intimate atmosphere, felt like the perfect place for such a service. The carved wood, the vivid ceiling, the echo of voices old and new it all contributed to an environment where carers could feel honoured rather than overlooked.
A Service That Told carer Stories
The order of service blended scripture, poetry, classic carols, and carers’ own words. Each part spoke to a different dimension of caring, love, sacrifice, resilience, loss, hope.
Here is a clear, concise list of the Carers UK Christmas Carol Service Order, based on the programme you shared.
Some of the order of Service – Carers UK Christmas Carols and Readings
Carol – Once in Royal David’s City
Welcome & The Bidding Prayer by The Revd Canon Thomas Woodhouse MA
Welcome on Behalf of Carers UK by Helen Walker, Chief Executive
Gospel According to Luke, Chapter 2, Verses 8–20 Reader: Rt Hon Sir Ed Davey MP
Reading – Gospel According to Luke, Chapter 2, Verses 1–7, Reader: The Rt Rev Rob Wickham
Reading – Extract from A Christmas Carol, Reader: Jaycee La Bouche, a carer
The Blessing by The Revd Canon Thomas Woodhouse MA
Below are some reflections on the elements that struck me the most, based on the transcript provided.
I started noting down things when hearing the classic Clement Clarke Moore poem brought a sense of nostalgia and gentleness. For many carers, Christmas isn’t always restful, it can be emotionally heavy or practically demanding. Yet this reading reminded me of the grounding power of tradition.
There was also a Carer’s Poem – “I Carried Him” (Martin Seare), which was read by Tiggy Walker. The poem captured something familiar to many carers, which is the sense of being the energy source behind someone else’s survival. The feeling of being nurse, advocate, motivator, protector, and emotional anchor, all at once.
Jaycee’s reading from A Christmas Carol brought a heartfelt authenticity to the service, grounding Dickens’ message of compassion in real lived experience. Hearing a carer deliver those words reminded me how powerfully stories of renewal that echo the emotional journeys many carers navigate every day.
We also heard an extract from A Christmas Carol, where hearing Dickens’ words about Scrooge’s transformation felt fitting. Carers often live in a world full of systems that need to “wake up” to their realities, these systems overdue for compassion and change.
There was another Carer’s Poem – “Hands That Once Held Me” (Aaliyah O’Neill), which was read by Pippa Haywood. This poem honoured the emotional labour that accompanies caring, the grief, the patience, the love that persists through fading timelines and shifting identities.
Walking around after the service, we were provided with wine and mince pies (I could only handle one glass of mine), but ate a lot of mince pies. I also noticed on a nearby table, beautifully wrapped with red ribbon, were copies of books written by individuals deeply connected to the world of caring.
Tiggy Walker’s Both Sides Now offered a tender, candid exploration of love, loss, and the emotional realities of caring, while Why I Care highlighted personal reflections on the value and challenges of supporting others by Sir Ed Davy. Seeing these books at the event felt fitting, they extended the service’s message by giving carers stories they could see themselves in, learn from, and feel strengthened by.
Carols – Collective Voice, Collective Strength
Carols like “Once in Royal David’s City,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” took on added meaning.
Singing these in chapel reminded me that carers often feel alone, but they are part of a much larger story. Carols have always been about shared experience, hope, and unity. That unity was felt strongly throughout the chapel.
A Blessing for Carers
Towards the end, The Revd Canon Thomas Woodhouse offered prayers acknowledging:
those who care
those who are cared for
those who grieve
those who find joy in service
those who struggle silently
What the Service Meant to Me as a Carer
I left the event feeling the followng:
Being Seen
Carers rarely hear their stories reflected back to them with such respect. This service did that.
Connected
Being surrounded by fellow carers, supporters, faith leaders, and advocates reminded me that we are not navigating these challenges alone.
Renewed
Christmas can be difficult for many carers, i am running a few carer groups to reduce isolation, but this service offered a moment to pause, reflect, and recharge spiritually and emotionally.
Motivated
Each poem and reading reinforced why I continue to campaign and raise awareness: because carers’ lives, struggles, and contributions must be brought into public consciousness.
Final Thoughts
The Carers UK Christmas Service wasn’t just a festive gathering, it was a space that lifted the voices and experiences of carers into the light.
Carers UK continues to be a champion for those who give so much of themselves. And events like this remind us that recognition, community, and hope are powerful gifts.
I left the chapel gratefull for the stories shared, for the solidarity felt, and for the reminder that carers are, and always have been, at the heart of what makes our communities truly compassionate.
BONUS : A small tour of the chapel.
History in the Woodwork: Discovering the Stories Behind the Savoy Chapel’s Symbols
One unexpected part of attending the Carers UK Christmas Service at The King’s Chapel of the Savoy was the opportunity to explore some of the chapel’s remarkable historical artefacts. As a carer and someone who works in carer advocacy, I often reflect on continuity on how the past shapes the present. Walking around the chapel, I realised the walls were not just decorative; they were storytellers.
These objects and emblems remind us that the Savoy Chapel is a living part of royal, national, and personal history. And in many ways, the quiet endurance reflected in these items echoes the resilience of carers across the country.
1. The Heraldic Plaques on the Chapel Walls
Along the wooden panelled walls were beautifully detailed heraldic plaques, each representing past members or senior figures associated with the Royal Victorian Order or individuals linked to the chapel’s long history of royal service.
The Royal Victorian Order was established in 1896 by Queen Victoria as a way of personally recognising service to the monarch. That personal element, service based on loyalty, commitment, and relationship. That i felt especially meaningful as someone attending the Carers UK event.
Each plaque typically includes:
A coat of arms, with symbols representing the individual’s heritage, achievements, or values.
A Latin motto, often referencing duty, honour, or faith.
A record of rank or title, showing how the person was tied to the Crown or Order.
Standing before these plaques, I was reminded that service, whether to the Crown or to a loved one is always part of a bigger human story.
2. The Book of Remembrance
Displayed under protective glass, the Book of Remembrance is one of the most moving artefacts in the Savoy Chapel. It is handwritten and illuminated in a traditional style, much like medieval manuscripts.
The book honours individuals connected to the chapel, recording their names, contributions, and sometimes short dedications. Every entry is crafted with care, respecting the memory of those who served their communities or the Royal Household.
3. The Stalls with Coats of Arms of Officers and Servants of the Order
In the choir stalls, more coats of arms decorate the woodwork. These represent officers, registrars, chaplains, and others who have served the Royal Victorian Order over the decades.
Each shield is different, but together they form a visual tapestry of dedication. They signal continuity across generations much like how caring roles pass through families, communities, and time.
You can almost imagine the individuals who once occupied these seats, each carrying out their duties with diligence. Their heraldry remains here as a testament to lives spent in service.
4. The Mantle and Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
One of the most striking displays was the ceremonial mantle worn by a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO). The deep blue and crimson robe, gold tassels, and the star emblem reflect the highest grade of this honour.
The mantle’s presence is not merely decorative:
The GCVO is awarded personally by the monarch, not via government recommendation.
It recognises exceptional service to the Crown.
The Star, Badge, and Collar each represent centuries-old tradition.
5. The Royal Victorian Order and Medal Display
This framed display explains the different grades of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) and shows examples of the insignia, including:
Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCVO)
Knight/Dame Commander (KCVO/DCVO)
Commander (CVO)
Lieutenant (LVO)
Member (MVO)
Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) in Gold, Silver, and Bronze
The RVM is unique because it honours personal service by staff who support the Royal Household directly, often throughout a lifetime. The photos in the display include historical figures wearing the ribbons and badges, underscoring the order’s strong ties to loyalty and lifelong commitment.
Why These Artefacts Mattered at a Carers Event
These historical items weren’t just museum pieces; they told a story of service, loyalty, remembrance, and quiet strength. I think in that sense, they perfectly framed the Carers UK Christmas Service.
A Caring Mind 