Carers Week 2026 was an opportunity to recognise, celebrate and amplify the voices of family carers across Suffolk – and to highlight the vital role they play every day.
Throughout the week, Suffolk Family Carers delivered a range of events and activities, while also taking to the airwaves on BBC Radio Suffolk and Suffolk Sound. These conversations helped shine a light on the realities of caring, the challenges carers face, and the importance of support within local communities.
Most importantly, family carers themselves shared their experiences, offering powerful and personal insights into what caring really means.
Taking time to rest, recharge and connect
One of the highlights of the week was a Wellbeing Session held on Tuesday 9 June at our Claydon office. This special afternoon gave carers the chance to step away from their caring roles and focus on their own wellbeing.
Carers were invited to rest, relax and recharge, while also connecting with others who understand the ups and downs of caring. Activities included sound bath sessions, wellbeing walks, pebble painting and planting sunflower seeds to take home. There was also time to enjoy food and refreshments together — with the scones proving a firm favourite!
Savanna – Wellbeing Engagement Worker, who supported the session, shared:
“It was lovely to see a community of family carers coming together, supporting each other, sharing the ups and downs of their caring roles, and taking some well-deserved time for themselves. Thank you to Suffolk Family Carers for allowing me to get involved in the day and for all the wonderful work you do in supporting family carers.”
The day clearly had a meaningful impact on those who attended. One carer said:
“Thank you to everyone who worked so hard and were so thoughtful to make me and the other carers feel happy, pampered and carefree for a few precious hours. A lovely way to celebrate Carers Week.”
Another reflected:
“I felt quite emotional at the end as I felt seen and heard. I felt special after years of ‘fighting to be heard’ and feeling exhausted. It really was appreciated and, for me, needed.”
Amplifying carers’ voices through roundtable discussions
As part of Carers Week, we also hosted a series of roundtable discussions with MPs, bringing together family carers, professionals and partners from across Suffolk.
These sessions created a valuable space for carers to speak directly to decision-makers about their experiences and what needs to change to build more carer-friendly communities.
Across the discussions, several key themes emerged:
- Difficulties accessing flexible respite care
- A lack of clear support in emergencies
- Complex and hard-to-navigate systems
- Financial pressures
- The impact of caring on health, wellbeing and employment
Carers also highlighted the need for greater recognition, better information earlier in their caring journey, and more accessible and inclusive communities.
What happens next?
We are currently bringing together all of the feedback from these discussions into a full report. This will be shared with MPs, councillors and partner organisations to help inform future conversations and influence decision-making.
This work will play an important role in shaping how we, and others, continue to support family carers across Suffolk.
Thank you
Carers Week is a time to recognise the incredible contribution of family carers – but it is also a reminder that support is needed all year round.
Thank you to every carer who shared their story, attended an event, or took part in our activities. Your voices are at the heart of everything we do.
