Richmond strengthens support for 14,000 local adult and young carers

Richmond is home to over 14,000 residents who provide unpaid care to family members, friends, and loved ones, including over 1,000 young carers.

The Richmond Adult and Young Carers’ Charter sets out the priorities all local organisations can work towards to support all unpaid carers in Richmond upon Thames.

Councillor Piers Allen, Lead Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Public Health and Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board, said:

“We have many dedicated and resilient carers in Richmond upon Thames who are often unseen but vital to our community and local services.

“The Charter sets a borough wide commitment designed to recognise, value, and better support carers in the borough.

“I call upon local organisations, neighbourhoods and communities, to strengthen the scaffolding that makes good care possible. Pledge your support and let’s support our unpaid carers together.”

2025 consultation 

In 2025, we launched a consultation to hear directly from unpaid carers, seeking insights about their lived experience, challenges and hopes for the future.

Over 250 responses from the consultation helped inform the charter and the priorities are inspired by their words.

Responses

These are some of their responses:

“Let carers' voices shape policies and public understanding, so caring feels less like an invisible role.”

“Better public awareness of carers' roles—highlighting our value so we're respected and included in decision-making.” 

Pledge your organisation's support for the new charter

The charter serves as a commitment from organisations, including the voluntary and community sector and statutory bodies like health services and the council, to recognise and value carers, ensuring they receive the support they need to balance their caring responsibilities with other aspects of their lives. 

Local organisations can pledge their support to: 

• Improving recognition and understanding of carers’ expertise and responsibilities 
• Reducing financial, employment, and educational challenges 
• Creating carer friendly services and communities 
• Improving health and wellbeing, including access to breaks, social connection, and flexible appointments 

Organisations can read the full Adult and Young Carers’ Charter and pledge their support for unpaid carers, improve access to support, and contribute to a more inclusive, carer-friendly Richmond.

Local support for unpaid carers 

A range of local support is available for unpaid carers, from practical, emotional support to financial support and advice.

A free carer’s assessment can help a carer understand the impact caring is having on their life and what support they may need. They will be provided with advice relevant to their individual circumstances and signposted to local services.

In addition, local GPs can offer flexible appointments and refer unpaid carers to specialist services like Richmond Carers Hub to help them look after their own health. 

Find out more about support and advice for carers.