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The awareness week runs from 9-15 June, and each year its aim is to raise awareness of the vital contributions made by unpaid carers, as well as the challenges they encounter.
Highlighting the inequalities facing unpaid carers and the steps needed to create a fairer society is the theme for the 2025 awareness week.
At ELFT, we have implemented various initiatives to support the wellbeing of our carers across east London, Bedfordshire and Luton. Take a look below.
PCREF is an anti-racism guidance document created by NHS England, enabling mental health trusts to design and deliver fairer services for people from diverse ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds. Initially, ELFT was chosen as one of four organisations to pilot the scheme.
During the pilot phase, we engaged with community organisations, service users, and carers from racialised backgrounds to understand the barriers they face, and what good care and inclusion should look like. These insights were shared with NHS England to shape the national framework.
In November 2023, we formally launched PCREF across the Trust, well ahead of the April 2025 deadline when PCREF became a mandatory requirement for mental health trusts and included in the Care Quality Commission (CQC) well-led inspections. Today, we are actively embedding PCREF across our services, ensuring that the voices of service users and carers, particularly those from racialised communities, shape decision-making and drive service improvement.
If you would like to be involved in shaping our PCREF work, or would like to learn more about the framework, you can contact elft.edi-team@nhs.net.
At ELFT, our Carers’ Handbook was launched in 2024 to provide support for carers based in Luton. This included details about services provided across the borough, questions about medication and information on benefits and allowances.
Specialist Carers’ Worker Catherine Aganoglu, Luton-based Carer Lyn Bliss and operational colleagues from across Bedfordshire Mental Health Services worked to coproduce the document.
Colleagues in Bedfordshire and Luton also developed a 12-week programme called ‘Family Connections’. This followed discussions during our monthly support group for those looking after people with complex emotional needs.
The programme provides information, teaches coping mechanisms and creates a support network for carers. Full details can be found in the Spring 2024 edition of TrustTalk.
Last year, we launched the Family, Friends and Carers Hub to support those who care for adults receiving mental health care.
The Hub offers a single point of contact for carers, timely information, access to support services, 1:1 support and much more.
Colleagues in the City and Hackney are also working to produce a Carers Information Pack, making it easier for local carers to access information in a single place.
To learn more about the Hub, you can visit the dedicated pages on the ELFT website.
City and Hackney Carers Centre: Self-Care Session
Date and time: 9 and 10 June, 10:30-11:30am.
The Trust, in partnership with the City and Hackney Carers Centre, will be holding two sessions to help carers to pause, recharge and take a moment for themselves.
The sessions will allow carers to:
Reflect on their needs and prioritise self-care.
Learn practical tools to manage stress and stay grounded.
Connect with other carers who truly understand.
Celebrate their role and boost self-worth.
Discover local resources and support available.
The Carers Centre Tower Hamlets: Shared Reading
Date and time: 9 June, 11:15am-12:15pm.
Attendees will have the opportunity to listen and reflect on a short story in a relaxed group setting.
The Carers Centre Tower Hamlets: Walking and Talking
Date and time: 9 June, 12:30-2pm.
Starting at The Carers Centre Tower Hamlets, local carers can join a walk and have conversations with others, before ending the afternoon with refreshments.
Carers Central: Carers Training Session
London Buddhist Centre: Carers Drop-in
Date and time: 10 June, 11am-1pm.
A non-religious, peaceful meditation session is being held with tea and coffee in a calming space.
Carers Central: Services and Advice
Date and time: 11 June, 11am-2pm.
Location: UK Centre for Carnival Arts, 3 Saint Mary's Road, Luton, LU1 3JA.
Luton Council and the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) will be jointly holding an event for the community to learn about free services available, as well as advice for unpaid carers in the borough.
Presentations and stalls will be provided by ELFT, along with local organisations including Total Wellbeing Luton, Hatters Health Primary Care Network (PCN) and Healthwatch Luton.
The Carers Centre Tower Hamlets: Pamper Day and 25 Years Celebration
Date and time: 11 June, 11am-3pm.
Join colleagues at The Carers Centre for a massage, henna, strawberries and cream, stalls and relaxation to celebrate 25 years of supporting carers.
The Carers Centre Tower Hamlets: Young Adult Carers Group
Date and time: 11 June, 5:30-8:30pm.
Peer-led sessions will be held, offering activities, food and a safe space to share or unwind.
Wallace Collection: Day Trip
Date and time: 12 June, 1pm onwards.
Carers have the opportunity to explore world-famous art, enjoy tea and spend the afternoon socialising in central London. For those who would like to attend, please email christine@ccth.org.uk to RSVP.
Carers Central: Free Wellbeing Workshops
Date and time: 12 June, 1-4pm.
Carers Central, in partnership with Total Wellbeing Luton, will be running workshops that will focus on how carers can take simple steps to look after their own emotional and physical wellbeing.
This event is free and available to anyone over 16 years old living, working and/or studying in Luton, Central Bedfordshire & Milton Keynes.
Carers Central: Carers Central Service
Royal London Hospital: Information Stalls
Date and Time: 13 June, 12:30-3pm.
Attendees will have the chance to learn about carers’ rights and support services available locally.
Kew Gardens: Organised Visit
Date and time: 9:30am-5pm.
An organised trip to Kew Gardens will be taking place to explore the beauty it has to offer. If you would like to RSVP, please email christine@ccth.org.uk.
Royal London Hospital: Caring Conversations
Date and Time: 13 June, 11am-12:30pm.
Hear from ELFT doctors about depression and substance misuse, ask questions, and get practical tips on how to support someone. Meet other carers and build your confidence.
In 2022, the Carers Friends & Families Strategy was launched. This laid out ELFT’s ambitions for involving and supporting the carers, friends and families of our patients, with directorates responsible for local implementation. With the Strategy due for review in 2026, now is a good time to pause and reflect on how far you have come in your service with its implementation, and how else you can progress in the next year.
All directorates have a Carers Lead, who champions the involvement and support of carers/families/friends. Do you know who yours is? Find out here.
All staff working in mental health services are strongly encouraged to complete the Life Beyond The Cubicle e-learning, which is all about working well with carers, families and friends of patients. It aims to improve patient care, avoid harm, and reduce deaths. This training was developed with input from 11 NHS Trusts, including ELFT, and the charity Making Families Count. Independent evaluation of the training resources showed that 'Clinicians who tested them said they transformed how they think about family members and this improved care for patients, and supported their families, keeping everyone safer.'
Every month, the Risk & Governance team run Learning Seminars, open to all Trust staff. These seminars aim to create a safe space for staff to learn from safety incidents and improve care. In February’s Learning Seminar, one of the key focus areas was involving and supporting the carers, friends and families of patients. Speakers included 2 carers Karen and Aurora, Mary Brazier (Director of Social Work), Christina Helden (Associate Director of Legal Affairs), and Dr Sarah Dracass (Medical Director for Inpatient and Urgent Mental Health Care). If you missed it, catch up here.
On rare occasions, staff are in the immensely difficult position of needing to tell a patient’s family/friend that their loved one was involved in a safety incident. This can include telling them when their loved one has died unexpectedly. In these instances, it is essential that we apologise meaningfully and offer support. Part of this is often signposting to other organisations that can offer more specialist support. A directory of support services has been developed to help staff who have these conversations, find it here.
