Join us in standing with unpaid carers in Richmond: a call for community pledges
Date:
19 February 2026
Author:
Councillor Piers Allen
Title:
Chair of the Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Services Committee and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board
We recently launched Richmond’s new Adult & Young Carers’ Charter, and I was delighted to meet with the local health and care services and voluntary organisations who helped shape it.
On 16 February, representatives from Who cares for Carers, Health Watch Richmond, Richmond Carers Centre, Crossroads Care, Richmond CVS, and others joined us to mark the launch of Adult & Young Carers’ Charter, along with a free Work Match session offering personalised career employment support to unpaid careers. It was encouraging to see our services working together to support unpaid carers in a meaningful way.
The Adult & Young Carers’ Charter demonstrates our shared, boroughwide commitment to recognising unpaid and family carers for the vital role they play, easing the pressures they face, and working together to make our services and communities more carer‑friendly.
In 2025, we engaged with adult and young unpaid carers and former carers to gather their voices and develop the Charter. It focuses on four priorities:
- 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.
A shared effort across the borough
As the home to over 14,000 residents who provide unpaid care to family members, friends, and loved ones, the borough is committed to supporting our unpaid carers. We ask local organisation to work towards turning the Charter’s commitments into practical actions and measurable improvements, embedding carers’ priorities of what good looks like into daily practice, making ‘carer awareness’ the standard across our services.
We will also put in place a follow-up process through the Health & Wellbeing Board to share progress, celebrate achievements, and highlight where more needs to be done.
Join the movement
I call upon statutory partners, Council teams, schools, community organisations, and employers to pledge your support and help us build a borough where carers feel recognised, valued and supported.
If you care for a friend or family member, explore the Charter and find out what help is available.
Share this
Up to: Council blog 2026
Updated: 24 February 2026