By Matthew McKenzie, Carer Ambassador, Cygnet Health Care
On Friday 13th June 2025, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at Cygnet Health Care’s National Carers Event, hosted at Cygnet Churchill in Lambeth, London. The event brought together carers, staff, professionals, and advocates to reflect on the vital role of unpaid carers who step up daily out of love, resilience, and responsibility, often with little recognition.
Carers Week is always a powerful reminder that caring touches us all – and Cygnet’s event this year was especially moving and informative. It offered a platform for carers to share their lived experience, influence policy, and strengthen our collective voice.
Agenda Highlights
The day opened with a warm welcome from Laura Sheridan & Shane Mills, setting the tone for a day grounded in empathy and collaboration. We heard from a range of speakers including:
- Susan Hartnell-Beavis, sharing practical tools for supporting carers.
- Kate Mercer and Carly Ellicott, who both championed carer involvement in care planning and research.
- John Bangs OBE, who brought a national perspective on carer rights and policy.
- Dr Angela Misra, who tackled the health implications of caregiving.
- Julian de Takats and Matthew McKenzie (myself), focusing on empowering carers’ voices.
- We also had insights from Dr Henk Swanepoel & Sophie Borg, who presented on collaborative approaches with carers in mental health services.
A Caring Mind 