Who Is Caring for the Carers? Healthwatch Cornwall Launches Call for Stories

Across Cornwall, thousands of people provide unpaid care every day, often without recognising the vital role they play. Healthwatch Cornwall is asking these individuals to come forward and share their experiences as part of a new exploration into the question, “Who is Caring for the Carers?”

Shining a Light on Unpaid Carers

From supporting a partner with medication to helping an elderly parent with shopping or simply offering emotional support, many people in Cornwall are caring without realising it. Healthwatch Cornwall wants to understand the real-life experiences of these carers and highlight the emotional, practical and financial pressures they face.

Chief Executive Debbie Gibert said:

“Unpaid carers are an essential part of Cornwall’s care system. They enable loved ones to stay at home, prevent hospital admissions, and support people when services are stretched. But too often, their contribution is unseen, and the pressure they carry is enormous.

We want to hear directly from carers themselves about their experiences – what helps, what’s missing, and what needs to change. Their voices will shape our recommendations to local services and policymakers.”

Why This Matters Now

Healthwatch Cornwall has already been hearing from unpaid carers across the county through community engagement and online feedback. Many report facing challenges such as:

• Providing complex care with little or no backup or support

• Experiencing burnout, isolation and financial hardship

• Leaving work or reducing hours to care

• Struggling to navigate the health and social care systems

The organisation aims to make visible the lived reality of those providing unpaid care in Cornwall and highlight the growing pressures they face.

How to Take Part

Anyone who helps to look after a family member, friend, neighbour or partner is encouraged to take part in the short survey and share their experience.

🔗 Learn more on the Healthwatch Cornwall website
🔗 Take the survey

What Happens Next

Healthwatch Cornwall will collect survey responses, stories and insights from carers, community groups and partners. The findings will be shared in a report in 2026 with residents, Cornwall Council, NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, the Integrated Care System, carer support services, voluntary organisations and MPs.

The aim is to shine a light on the essential role unpaid carers play in Cornwall’s care system and the strain they continue to carry without recognition or sufficient support.