About Us
Working together to ensure family carers are visible, valued, supported and connected.
For over 30 years Suffolk Family Carers have been helping family carers of all ages across Suffolk get the support they need to live fuller lives. We provided information, advice and support to thousands of family carers each year.
Our credible representation of family carers’ needs, and our valued work in supporting family carers, enables us to campaign on issues that affect them and ensure their voices are heard. We will keep driving change across society to enable family carers to have a life of their own alongside their caring role.
We are here to help
There are over 88,000 identified carers living in Suffolk. For thousands more looking after an ill, older or disabled loved one this doesn’t have a name, it is ‘just something you do.’
Our loved ones are living longer with illness or disability, and more and more of us are looking after them. Whether round-the-clock or for a few hours a week, in our own home or for someone at the other end of a motorway – caring can have a huge effect on us, our lives and our plans.
Caring is such an important part of life. It’s simply part of being human. Carers are holding families together, enabling loved ones to get the most out of life, making an enormous contribution to society and saving the economy billions of pounds.
Yet many family carers do not recognise they are carrying out a caring role, and this can be a real barrier to accessing vital support. Our information line handles over 7,000 calls a year from family carers and provides advice and support in a solution focused way. Our Advisers complete Carers Assessments in partnership with Suffolk County Council.
For some it’s sudden: someone you love is taken ill or has an accident or your child is born with a disability. For others, caring creeps up unnoticed: your parents can’t manage on their own any longer, your partner’s health gets gradually worse.
Every day another 6,000 children and adults across the UK will take on a caring responsibility – that equates to over 2 million people each year.
Over 30 years experience
How we've been supporting family carers like you...
What we do
Caring can be extremely complicated. The maze of rights and entitlements can be complicated. Filling in paperwork can be complicated. Trying to organise a break can be complicated. Our feelings about caring can certainly be complicated.
We’re here to make sure that no matter how complicated your query or your experience, you don’t have to care alone.
99% of family carers felt that Suffolk Family Carers listened, and gave them information and advice to empower them to make informed decisions about their caring role.
We provide innovative services, often ahead of the field. Our work with young carers in now long established and well respected in over 90 schools and colleges across Suffolk.
We have support workers in all the main hospitals across Suffolk, and GP surgeries in West & East Suffolk, to identify and support family carers. We introduced the ‘Carer Friendly Hospital’ award for hospitals, to recognise the needs of the family carer alongside the patient.
Our work within the sphere of mental health and wellbeing is considered exemplary by family carers and practitioners alike. We also support family carers who are affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use. We signpost to relevant agencies and provide positive opportunities to meet others in a similar situation, share viewpoints and discuss different strategies.
How we are run
The team of over 90 staff and around 60 volunteers at Suffolk Family Carers is directed by our CEO, Kirsten Alderson, with support from the Senior Management Team.
Financial Reports
View our latest trustees annual reports
and find out what impact we have had with our impact reports
Our Strategy
How we will ensure family carers across Suffolk remain visible, valued, supported and connected
Meet our Trustees
The Board of Trustees is responsible for
our management and conduct
as a charity.
Our FAIR Values
F
Family Carer Focus
Listening and responding to family carers’ needs and those of their families
A
Accountability
Responsible for the decisions we make and the actions we take
I
Integrity
Working professionally
R
Respect
Valuing family carers, staff and stakeholders; recognising and promoting equality and diversity
