A highlight of the week was our Connection and Celebration Event, co-hosted with Carers UK at The Fircroft Trust in Surbiton. Over one hundred people joined us for a day of conversation, connection and recognition. We were privileged to be joined by Ed Davey MP, Alison Bennett MP and Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK.

Carers of all ages had the opportunity to hear from and speak with them, sharing the realities of caring - from the challenges and pressures to the moments of pride and fulfilment - and discussing what can be done to create truly carer-friendly communities.

The event also included creative activities, games and a lucky dip made possible by the generosity of local businesses who donated a range of fantastic prizes.

One carer shared with us that it was “the best day of their year so far” - a wonderful reflection of what the week has been all about.

Throughout the week, we also focused on helping more carers to be recognised and supported. We launched our new Local Health Professionals Toolkit, designed to help healthcare staff identify unpaid carers, understand the impact of caring and connect carers with local support.

We wrote to every GP practice in the borough and hand delivered information packs, leaflets and posters to practices across Kingston. Several surgeries are now displaying our resources on waiting room screens and self-check-in systems, helping more carers learn about the support available to them.

Young carers were also at the heart of the week. Our Young Carers team visited King’s Oak Primary School in New Malden to deliver an assembly exploring what caring responsibilities can look like for children and young people.

Two pupils shared their own experiences as young carers, helping bring the message to life for their peers. We are incredibly grateful to the school for supporting our work through a fundraising mufti day, which has raised an incredible £641.

Alongside this awareness-raising work, carers were able to access practical advice, information and wellbeing opportunities.

Our Benefits and Tribunal Representative hosted a Benefits and Lasting Power of Attorney Open Day, supporting carers with topics including Universal Credit and future planning. We were delighted to help complete two Lasting Power of Attorney applications from start to finish during the day.

Carers also came together at a coffee morning co-hosted with Your Healthcare CIC and were able to access a health and wellbeing check drop-in session with Kathy Wong, Health Engagement Officer at Kingston Voluntary Action.

Adult carers then enjoyed free beauty and wellbeing treatments kindly offered by Kingston College Beauty Therapy students, while our Young Carers Resilience and Peer Support Group took part in a special yoga session with Rebekah Arkle from All Shapes Yoga.

Our Youth Group were delighted to be joined by two artists, Jamal Mansaray and Muhammad Hassan, who supported the group to explore painting, poetry and Japanese calligraphy around the theme of belonging, support and inclusion as young carers.

We rounded off the week with a social picnic at Hampton Court Palace, giving carers the chance to enjoy the surroundings and strengthen the connections that are so important when caring can sometimes feel isolating.

Thank you to every carer, partner, volunteer and supporter who took part in Carers Week and helped make it such a success. By working alongside local people and organisations, we hope to continue building a more carer-friendly Kingston where every carer feels seen, heard and supported.

We would also like to thank Sorrento Restaurant, Hampton Court Palace Music Festival organisers MARI Group, Hollywood Bowl Tolworth, Health by Serena, Historic Royal Palaces and The Entertainer Kingston for generously donating prizes for our Connection and Celebration Event.

The evening brought volunteers together to enjoy a delicious selection of Iranian and Persian food, test their knowledge in a table quiz and, most importantly, celebrate the impact they have on the lives of young carers and families across Kingston.

A highlight of the evening was sharing entries from our Young Carers Volunteers' Week competition. We asked young carers:

"If anything was possible, how would you thank our volunteers?"

The answers were thoughtful, imaginative and full of appreciation.

Some young carers said they would take volunteers to the World of Paw Patrol at Chessington World of Adventures and the zoo, give everyone what they want, buy them flowers, award them medals or take them to their favourite place.

We were also delighted to announce the two winning entries.

Winner: Lena

"If anything were possible… I'd do everything they do for me!!!"

Winner: Maisey

"Thank you Jason. I will take you to Disneyland. You are so kind to me. You make jokes about croissants I love! You put a smile on my face."

Hearing these messages reminded everyone just how much volunteers mean to the young carers they support.

As a final thank you, every volunteer who attended received a card, Hampton Court Palace tickets and one of more than 80 homemade cookies baked by our Volunteers Manager Jess, each decorated with the words "Thank you".

Thank you to everyone who came along, and to all our volunteers. We simply could not exist without your support, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do.

If you’re interested in making a similar impact, we would love to hear from you. You can find out more about our volunteering opportunities here. 

Peter has generously volunteered his time to support carers through free one-to-one online sessions focused on CV development, interview preparation, confidence building and employment support. Drawing on his background in advertising, he helps people learn how to effectively communicate their skills and experiences to employers.

One of Peter's greatest strengths is helping carers recognise just how valuable their experiences are. Caring develops a wide range of transferable skills, including organisation, problem solving, communication, resilience and time management. Peter works with carers to identify these strengths and turn them into compelling examples for CVs and interviews.

Since joining Kingston Carers Network, Peter has delivered more than 22 one-to-one support sessions with both young and adult carers. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting increased confidence and a better understanding of how to present themselves to employers.

"I really enjoy spending time with the inspiring carers and support team at Kingston Carers. My aim is to help them to identify what they offer potential employers (which is always a lot more than they think!) and then help them to communicate these skills and talents through their CVs and interviews." Peter

Peter also volunteers with Rise Up Manchester, supporting people who face barriers to employment, and brings this wealth of experience to his work with our carers.

We are incredibly grateful for Peter's time, enthusiasm and commitment to helping carers achieve their goals.

Could Peter help you take the next step?

If you're a carer who is thinking about returning to work, looking for a new role, preparing for interviews or simply wanting to build your confidence, Peter can help

Peter currently has availability to support more carers.

To access this support, you'll first need to be registered with us. If you are registered and would like to be referred to Peter, please contact Jess Burrows.

As we celebrate Volunteers’ Week, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to the incredible volunteers who give their time, skills and experience to support unpaid carers across Kingston.

Our volunteers support carers in many different ways. From preparing meals for young carers at group activities to being the first voice a carer might hear when they call our office, they provide practical support, a listening ear and a warm welcome to carers across Kingston.

This year’s volunteer survey highlighted the dedication and commitment of our volunteers. Nearly three quarters of respondents (72%) have volunteered with Kingston Carers Network for more than three years.

Our volunteers highlighted the positive impact volunteering has on them, helping them to build confidence, develop skills, improve wellbeing and make new connections. One volunteer shared:

“As a young carer myself, I met amazing volunteers offering their free time to provide many fun events. Now being a trustee, I am able to give my time back to support young carers and also, it has allowed me to gain more experience in finance, governance and confidence building.”

Others reflected:

"Volunteering contributes to me keeping faith in human beings. It is important to be reminded and see the positive impacts of helping one another. I appreciate also the lovely social opportunities of meeting with people, and I gained confidence and skills that I would probably not have developed more otherwise (like cooking for 30+ people!).”

“Volunteering has helped me become more confident and improve my communication skills. It has made me more patient and understanding towards others. I also feel proud knowing that I am helping people and making a positive difference.”

Every volunteer who completed our survey said they were proud to volunteer with us, would recommend volunteering to others and felt their volunteering makes a positive difference to carers.

"This is the best charity I have volunteered for in terms of support."

Among the many volunteers making a difference are Amanda, Chris and Jake.

Chris has volunteered as a mentor for more than a year, supporting a 14-year-old young carer who helps care for his mother, who lives with a rare condition. Together they have taken part in activities including rock climbing, mountain biking and gym sessions, while also developing independent travel skills. His young carer’s mother described Chris as “much more than a mentor”, adding that her son “would see him every single day if he could.”

Jake, one of our youngest volunteers and a former young carer, now gives back by supporting other young carers. During Mental Health Awareness Week, he delivered a powerful speech to our youth group, sharing his experiences and highlighting the importance of support for young carers.

We are also grateful to our Volunteers Coordinator, Jess, whose dedication helps ensure volunteers feel welcomed, supported and valued throughout their volunteering journey. Her commitment is reflected in this year’s survey, where 100% of volunteers who responded said they felt welcomed and valued as a volunteer.

To every volunteer who gives their time to Kingston Carers Network, thank you. Your kindness and commitment make a real difference to carers and their families every day.

If you’re interested in making a similar impact to Amanda, Chris and Jake, we would love to hear from you. You can find out more about our volunteering opportunities here.