Sutton to provide more support to unpaid Carers

On Monday, Sutton Council approved a new plan for supporting Carers in Sutton. The five-year strategy has been developed with direct input from Carers in the community and will build on existing work by the Council to ensure Carers across the borough can access information and services as early as possible. 

The Carers Strategy for Sutton was agreed at Sutton’s Health and Wellbeing Board, with a number of Carers attending the board meeting to share their experiences.

The five-year Strategy will establish four priorities areas for supporting Carers:

• Identifying and recognising Carers
• Assessing Carers’ needs
• Tailoring support for Carers
• Addressing the needs of young carers

Within this, the Strategy will focus on a number of ways working between the Council, community partners and carers including:

• Increased opportunities for carers to shape future policies across Sutton
• A new pathway for children and young carers to access support more easily
• Greater information about support and services for carers
• The development of an improved process for carers assessments

An unpaid carer is someone who provides care to an individual, sometimes a family member or neighbour, without being paid. Three in five people are expected to become an unpaid Carer at some point in their lives. The 2021 Census identified approximately 15,999 unpaid Carers in Sutton, representing 8.4% of residents, higher than the Greater London Region (7.2%).

The Strategy has been developed with Carers, alongside the Council, NHS, Sutton Carers Centre and other local Community, Charity and Faith Groups. 

Councillor Marian James, Lead Member for Adults and Children, said: 

"I am grateful to our partners and carers across Sutton for helping to develop this new  Carers Strategy. Our shared goal is to support and empower unpaid Carers, helping them to live their lives the way they would wish and improving the lives of those they care for. This Strategy demonstrates our shared commitment to understanding and addressing the unique challenges unpaid carers face, ensuring they receive the support they deserve." 

Dr. Dino Pardhanani, Clinical Director, Sutton Place, South West London Integrated Care Board, said:

"I am pleased to support the joint Carers Strategy in my role as local GP and Convenor of the Sutton Place Partnership. The Strategy has the commitment of the partnership to ensure its implementation and reflects our shared goal to support and empower unpaid Carers. I am particularly proud of the level of input we have received from Young Carers in ensuring this Strategy supports them to achieve their goals and aspirations, receiving the right support at the right time.”

Rachael MacLeod, Carer and Chief Executive, Sutton Carers Centre, said:

“This is a pivotal moment for unpaid Carers in Sutton. Never have we spoken with so many Carers across all age groups and from so many different backgrounds. This Strategy reflects those conversations and urges us to respond to the challenges Carers and their families face. We are caring more than ever, be it through love or duty, so this Strategy could not be better timed or placed, in recognition of the immense contributions Carers make to our community.”

For more information about Sutton’s Carers Strategy 2025-2030, please visit https://sutton.gov.uk/w/carers-strategy.