Our objectives
Across Solihull, thousands of people provide unpaid care for a family member, friend, or neighbour. They support someone who may have a physical disability, learning disability, long term or terminal illness, mental health needs, or substance dependency.
Carers often take on significant responsibility. They help with:
- Personal care and daily living tasks
- Household management
- Financial planning and appointments
- Medication and medical support
- Emotional reassurance
- Communication and advocacy with professionals
Caring can be meaningful and rewarding. It can also demand time, energy, and resilience.
Many carers give up employment, education, social opportunities, and time for themselves. Some experience isolation, financial pressure, and declining health as a result of their caring role.
Carers Trust Solihull exists to ensure carers are recognised, supported, and not left to cope alone.
Our objectives are to:
- Identify and reach hidden carers across the borough
- Provide practical support, advice, and guidance
- Create opportunities for respite, wellbeing, and peer connection
- Support carers to maintain their own health and independence
- Enable carers to access work, education, and community life where possible
- Work in partnership with local services to improve outcomes for carers
We focus on helping carers sustain their caring role while maintaining their own quality of life.
By supporting carers, we strengthen families, communities, and the wider health and social care system.
Our activities
Carers Trust Solihull supports unpaid carers across the borough, including adult carers, young carers, and parent carers. Our work focuses on identifying carers early, providing practical and emotional support, and helping them maintain their own wellbeing alongside their caring role.
We deliver our service through six core areas:
1. Identification and Early Intervention
We work with schools, GP practices, community organisations, and local partners to identify hidden carers. Many carers do not recognise themselves as carers. We raise awareness so they can access support earlier.
We respond to referrals promptly and complete registrations and contingency planning. This ensures carers are known, recorded, and supported safely.
2. Information, Advice, and Guidance
We provide accurate, timely information that helps carers make informed decisions.
This includes:
- Benefits and financial guidance
- Support with statutory assessments
- Signposting to local services
- Practical advice on managing caring responsibilities
We work closely with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and other partners to ensure carers can access the right help at the right time.
3. Wellbeing and Respite Opportunities
Caring can lead to isolation and burnout. We create safe spaces where carers can take a break, connect with others, and focus on their own wellbeing.
Activities include:
- Peer support groups
- Wellbeing sessions
- Training workshops
- Social opportunities and outings
- Young carers group activities and trips
These sessions reduce isolation and improve confidence.
4. One-to-One and Targeted Support
Some carers require more focused intervention. We offer structured support that addresses specific challenges.
This may include:
- Emotional support
- Advocacy
- Goal setting
- Crisis response
- Support planning
We take a strengths-based approach. We work with carers to build resilience and independence rather than create dependency.
5. Young Carers Support
We provide tailored services for young carers aged 5 to 25.
Our work includes:
- School liaison
- Group activities
- Life skills development
- Transition support into adulthood
- Support with education and future planning
We ensure young carers are safe, heard, and able to achieve their potential.
6. Community Engagement and Partnership Working
We collaborate with local organisations, health services, education settings, and voluntary groups.
This helps us:
- Improve referral pathways
- Share safeguarding information appropriately
- Strengthen local carer awareness
- Contribute to borough-wide wellbeing strategies
We monitor performance and outcomes carefully. We track activity, engagement levels, feedback, and impact. This ensures accountability under our local authority contract and allows us to continuously improve.
Through these core activities, we aim to ensure carers are recognised, supported, and able to maintain their own quality of life while continuing in their caring role.
