Tag Archives: carers

Step Outside, Connect, and Recharge: Join Carers Active Together in Hyde Park

Taking time for yourself as a carer isn’t always easy. The daily responsibilities, emotional demands, and constant care for others can often mean your own wellbeing takes a back seat. That’s why initiatives like Carers Active Together matter more than ever.

This Wednesday 15 April, a national day of action is bringing carers across the UK together to focus on movement, wellbeing, and community and you’re invited to be part of it.

A simple step that makes a difference

As part of the day, Carers UK is hosting a free, friendly wellbeing walk in Hyde Park, which is a chance to pause, breathe, and connect with others who understand the caring journey.

Whether you’re caring for a loved one full-time or supporting someone alongside work and life commitments, this walk is designed to be inclusive, relaxed, and welcoming. There’s no pressure, just an opportunity to enjoy fresh air, gentle movement, and good company.

Event details

Date: Wednesday 15 April
Time: 11:00am
Location: Meet at Serpentine Bar and Kitchen, Hyde Park
Cost: Free

As highlighted on the event flyer (page 1), the walk is all about giving carers a chance to “get some fresh air, connect with your community, and enjoy a supportive stroll with local carers.”

Why join the walk?

Sometimes the smallest actions like a walk in the park can have the biggest impact. Taking part in this event can help you:

Boost your physical and mental wellbeing
Meet other carers and share experiences
Feel part of a supportive community
Take a well-deserved break in a beautiful setting

You’re not alone

Carers play an essential role in our communities, often quietly and without recognition. Carers Active Together is a reminder that your wellbeing matters too and that support is out there.

If you know someone who is a carer, consider sharing this with them. A simple invitation could make a meaningful difference.

Register your place

Spaces are free, but registration is encouraged. You can sign up here:
👉 https://bit.ly/4uEXwJO

Have Your Say: Supporting Safer Mental Health Discharge for Black Communities

If you’ve supported someone through a stay in mental health services, your experience could help improve care for others.

Researchers at The University of Manchester are inviting people with lived experience—including carers to take part in an online workshop focused on improving how mental health services support people during hospital discharge, particularly for individuals from Black heritage communities.

Reason for research

Evidence shows that people from Black communities often face poorer outcomes in mental health care, including barriers to access and challenges during discharge from hospital.

To address this, researchers are working to make future services and research more inclusive, culturally responsive, and grounded in real experiences. Hearing directly from carers is a key part of that work .

Who is running this?

The workshop is being led by Dr Natasha Tyler, a Research Fellow at The University of Manchester, as part of work linked to improving future research and care approaches.

The session will also be supported by facilitators with lived experience, including carers, to ensure discussions are grounded and meaningful .

Who can take part?

What’s involved?

Format: Online (MS Teams)
Duration: 2 hours
Dates: Sessions planned between 23rd April and 8th May 2026
Payment: £60 as a thank-you for your time

Participants will receive questions in advance to help prepare for the discussion.

Why get involved?

Taking part is a chance to:

Help shape future mental health research and services
Ensure carers’ voices are included in decision-making
Contribute to reducing inequalities in care
Share your experience in a supportive environment

How to express interest

If you’d like to take part, you can follow the link in the invitation to share your availability or contact the research team directly.

https://doodle.com/meeting/organize/id/dwy8n1Ma

You’re also welcome to share this opportunity with others who may be interested. For more info, contact Dr Natasha at natasha.tyler@manchester.ac.uk

Help Shape Better Care for People with Multiple Long-Term Conditions

Caring for someone with multiple long-term health conditions can be both rewarding and challenging. More people than ever are living with conditions like diabetes, asthma, arthritis, or hypertension and these health challenges often affect minoritised ethnic communities disproportionately.

King’s College London is running the INTERCEPTION study to better understand the experiences of carers like you and the people you support. The goal is to improve how community leaders, healthcare professionals, and policymakers perceive and support those living with multiple conditions.

Your Voice Matters

Your experiences as a carer provide invaluable insights into what works, what could be better, and what support is most needed. By sharing your story, you help shape the future of care for people in similar situations, both locally and nationally.

Who Can Take Part

You can join the study if you:

Are 18 years old or above
Live in Coventry, London, or Manchester
Care for someone with two or more long-term physical or mental health conditions
Can communicate in English for an interview

What Participation Involves

The study involves a one-to-one interview lasting 60–90 minutes at a time and place that suits you. Everything you share will be kept confidential. As a thank you for your time, participants receive a £25 voucher.

How to Get Involved

To learn more or sign up, scan the QR code on the flyer or visit this link . If you have any questions, you can contact the research team, Dr Brenda Hayanga and Dr Sujith Prankumar, at interception@kcl.ac.uk.

Your experiences truly matter. By participating, you help researchers understand what carers need and influence better care for minoritised ethnic communities living with multiple long-term conditions.

Are You a Carer? Help Improve Care Under the Mental Health Act

Post shared by Matthew McKenzie

When someone you care about experiences a mental health crisis, the system needs to work quickly, safely and compassionately. But for many families and carers, the reality can involve delays, uncertainty, and distress especially when assessments or admissions happen under the Mental Health Act.

Now, there is a meaningful opportunity for carers to use their lived experience to shape research that aims to improve this care.

The importance of the Research

In times of crisis, timely support can prevent someone from becoming more unwell or needing more restrictive interventions later. Researchers at King’s College London want to better understand:

Experiences of delays in Mental Health Act assessments
What happens during admissions to hospital
How care pathways could be made safer and more responsive

Crucially, they want carers and service users at the heart of this work.

A Paid Opportunity to Share Your Expertise

Family members and carers of young people or adults who have received care under the Mental Health Act are warmly invited to join a Lived Experience Advisory Board.

As a carer, your insight is invaluable. You will help:

Shape the direction of the research
Share your views on how care could be improved
Ensure the work reflects real-life experiences

Meetings will take place both online and in person (London), making it accessible to a wide range of participants.

Participants will receive £27.50 per hour (plus expenses) in recognition of their time and expertise.

Who Can Get Involved?

The research team would like to hear from:

Adults aged 18+ with experience of detention under the Mental Health Act
Family members and carers of young people or adults with experience of care under the Mental Health Act

If you have supported someone through assessment, admission, or crisis care, your perspective could directly influence how future services are designed and delivered.

Be Part of Making Care Safer

This work is funded by the Better Health & Care Hub at King’s College London and is focused on improving safety and outcomes for people in crisis.

Your lived experience can help ensure future families face fewer delays, clearer communication, and safer care pathways.

To get involved or find out more, visit:
tinyurl.com/MHAcarepathways

If you have any questions, you can contact Phoebe at:
phoebe.averill@kcl.ac.uk

Partnering for Better Outcomes – Reflections on My Latest Royal College of Nursing Blog

By Matthew McKenzie – Cancer Carer forum Facilitator

Partnering for Better Outcomes – Reflections on My Latest RCN Blog

Supporting someone living with cancer is a journey filled with uncertainty, responsibility, and deep emotional commitment. As many carers know, much of this work happens quietly in the background. But every so often, there’s an opportunity to shine a light on the realities carers face and the vital partnerships that make a difference.

I’m proud to share that the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) recently invited me to contribute to their blog as part of a wider piece exploring how nurses support cancer caregivers. Written by Shannon Copeland (PhD researcher at Queen’s University Belfast), Partnering for better outcomes: How nurses support cancer caregivers highlights the evolving role of informal carers and the essential collaboration between families and nursing professionals.

In the blog, I shared my lived experience as an unpaid carer, the challenges, the emotional strain, and most importantly, the difference nurses can make when they recognise and support carers as part of the care team. Simple acts such as clear communication, continuity of support, and acknowledgment of a carer’s role can transform the caregiving experience.

Nurses often stand at the intersection of patient and carer needs. When they listen, guide, and empower carers, both patients and families benefit. I’m grateful to Shannon and the RCN for giving space to these conversations, and for highlighting the importance of carer voices in cancer care.

💙 Read the full RCN blog here: Partnering for better outcomes: How nurses support cancer caregivers
https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/Blogs/partnering-for-better-outcomes

If you’re a carer, a nurse, or someone interested in improving cancer support, I encourage you to give it a read and join the discussion. Together, we can continue raising awareness of the carer journey and push for better recognition, resources, and collaboration across health and social care.

Reflections from King’s Mental Health Fair 2025 – A Carer’s Perspective

By Carer Activist – Matthew McKenzie

Today, I had the privilege of being part of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Mental Health Fair, held on Thursday 2nd October, in recognition of World Mental Health Day 2025.

The event brought together a wide range of organisations and community groups working tirelessly to support the mental health and wellbeing of patients, families, and carers.

Why carers need to be at the heart of mental health conversations

As someone who has cared for a loved one experiencing mental health challenges, I know firsthand the importance of recognising and supporting carers through the groups i run.

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Understanding Community: The Foundation of Connection

By Matthew McKenzie – A Caring Mind

Community is a word we hear often, but its true meaning and significance can sometimes be overlooked. At its core, a community is a network, a web of relationships built on shared identity, common themes, and mutual trust. Communities are formed when people come together, united by a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. This sense of belonging is not just about being part of a group; it’s about feeling valued, having a purpose, and working towards common ideals.

This blog is a transcript of the video below.

Communities exist in many forms. The most immediate and intimate is the family, where the seeds of unpaid caring are often sown.

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Celebrating Carers Week 2025 with Poetry: A Unique Event by Carers, for Carers

Date: Friday, June 13, 2025
Time: 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM (GMT+1)
Location: Cygnet Churchill, 22 Barkham Terrace, London SE1 7PW
Admission: Free (Limited tickets available – reserve now!)

As part of this year’s Carers Week 2025, we’re thrilled to spotlight a truly special celebration: the Carer Poetry Performance Event & Book Launch – By Carers, For Carers. Taking place in the heart of London, this inspiring event offers a rare platform for unpaid carers to raise their voices through poetry, storytelling, and community.

Why This Event Matters

Caring can be isolating, demanding, and emotionally intense. This event flips the script by offering carers a space to express their journeys, hopes, struggles, and triumphs in their own words. It’s not just about performance it’s about connection, validation, and healing through creative expression.

You can also order copies of the book below.

Telling your story as a mental health carer by matthew mckenzie

Whether you’re a carer yourself or an ally, this is your opportunity to witness the power of poetry and lived experience intersecting. Hear firsthand stories that move, educate, and celebrate the silent heroes among us.

A Book Launch to Remember

The event also marks the launch of a special poetry book curated from carers across the community. It’s more than just a collection of verses, it’s a tribute to resilience, empathy, and the unseen emotional labor of caring.

Hosted by Matthew McKenzie

Spearheaded by Matthew McKenzie, a dedicated carer and ambassador for Cygnet Health, this event reflects his ongoing mission to amplify the voices of carers. With over 200 events hosted, Matthew brings both expertise and passion to the stage.

Reserve Your Free Ticket

Tickets are free but extremely limited. If you want to be part of this moving and empowering experience, don’t wait. Please note the event is for unpaid carers.

Let’s come together to honor the stories behind the care. Join us for an afternoon of poetry, purpose, and community.

#CarersWeek2025 #CarerPoetry #UnpaidCarers #MentalHealthAwareness #ByCarersForCarers

🌟 Celebrating Carers – Join Us for a Special Event! 🌟

At Caring Mind Blog, we’re always on the lookout for ways to uplift, support, and connect our incredible community of carers. That’s why we’re thrilled to share this upcoming event hosted by West London NHS Trust, dedicated entirely to you – the carers who give so much every single day.

📅 An Event for Carers – Focusing on Equality

When: 12th June 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Irish Cultural Centre, 5 Blacks Road, London W6 9DT

This event is part of Carers Week, with the theme “Caring About Equality” – recognizing the vital role carers play and the importance of inclusion and fairness for all.

What to Expect:

🌈 A welcoming space to connect with other carers
🗣️ Insightful talks and support resources
☕ Light lunch and refreshments provided – because you deserve a break!
💬 Opportunities to share experiences and ask questions

Whether you’re a full-time carer or juggling caring responsibilities alongside other commitments, this event is designed to celebrate and support you.

💌 Booking Details:

To reserve your place, simply email:
📧 linda.thomas38@nhs.net
or call 📞 07860 104223

Spaces may be limited, so be sure to book early!

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025: The Power of Community

The Power of Community in Mental Health: Reflections on Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

By Matthew McKenzie

Mental health is a universal concern, touching every life in profound and personal ways. As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, the spotlight turns to a theme that is both timeless and urgently relevant: community. In a world where isolation and disconnection are increasingly common, the bonds we share with others, whether family, friends, neighbors, or online networks it can be the difference between despair and hope, between struggle and resilience.

You can watch the awareness video below.

This article explores the vital role of community in mental health, the challenges many face in accessing supportive spaces, and the collective actions we can take to ensure no mind is left behind.

Understanding Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

A Tradition of Advocacy and Reflection

For over two decades, Mental Health Awareness Week has been a cornerstone of advocacy in the UK, led by organizations like the Mental Health Foundation. Each year, this week serves as a time for reflection, education, and action, encouraging individuals and communities to prioritize mental well-being.

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