Councillor Aspinall (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) introduced the report and discussed:

a)     The strategy represented a shared commitment across Plymouth to ensure unpaid carers were recognised and valued for their vital contribution;

b)    The vision was to create a community where carers were acknowledged as essential partners in care, their contributions celebrated, and their needs fully supported;

c)     The strategy was co-produced by Plymouth City Council, Livewell Southwest, University Hospitals Plymouth, St Luke’s Hospice, Improving Lives Plymouth, and unpaid carers themselves, ensuring lived experience shaped priorities;

d)    The document was more than a strategy; it was a pledge to work collaboratively to make Plymouth a carer-friendly city.

Louise Ford (Head of Commissioning for Adults and Children’s Services) presented the strategy and highlighted:

e)     The strategy covered all ages, including adult and young carers, and reflected the voice of carers throughout;

f)      It set out clear priorities for supporting carers, with an implementation plan and governance through the Carer Strategic Partnership Board.

Claire Sterling (Patient Experience Manager, Livewell Southwest) and Carlina Hall (Senior Commissioning Officer, Plymouth City Council) added:

g)     The strategy aimed to support unpaid carers of all ages and backgrounds, creating an inclusive environment and guiding decision-making;

h)    A carer was defined as anyone, including children and adults, who looked after a family member, partner, or friend needing help due to illness, frailty, disability, mental health problems, or addiction, without payment;

i)      Key facts included:

1. Women had a 50/50 chance of providing care by age 46; men by age 57;
2. Plymouth had over 23,000 carers based on the last census;
3. The 2025 school census identified 846 young carers, with a further 516 recorded on Eclipse, totalling 1,299 known young carers;
4. Every day, 12,000 people became unpaid carers, and one in three people would be an unpaid carer at some point;
5. 70% of carers had long-term physical or mental health conditions compared to 59% of non-carers;
6. Carer’s Allowance remained the lowest benefit of its kind at £83.30 per week (2025/26 rates);
7. Young carers providing 35+ hours of care weekly were 86% less likely to obtain a degree and 46% less likely to enter employment;

j)      Challenges included workforce retention and recruitment issues in social care, insufficient funding, over-reliance on informal carers, and increasing “excessive caring” responsibilities;

k)     The strategy was fully accessible online via Plymouth Online Directory, with full, easy-read, one-page summary, and audio versions available;

l)      Development involved a task-and-finish group, research, statutory guidance review, surveys, and engagement sessions with carers;

m)   The six co-produced priority areas were: Access to Services, Financial Support, Health, Safety, and Wellbeing, Early Identification and Recognition, Improving Information, Advice, and Communication, and Transitions and Changing Roles;

n)    An action plan would be overseen by Carer Strategic Partnership Board, with regular updates and partner-led workstreams for each priority;

o)    Progress would be measured through qualitative and quantitative indicators, including health outcomes, identification rates, and participation in community activities;

p)    A research project was underway to assess impact of the strategy over 12–14 months;

q)    A memorandum of understanding had been signed by multiple partners to ensure coordinated support for young carers and smooth transitions.

In response to questions, the Cabinet discussed:

r)     The importance of schools identifying young carers and supporting them effectively;

s)     Recognition that many carers balanced employment with caring responsibilities, highlighting the need for flexible support;

t)     Personal reflections from members on caring experiences and the value of the strategy in providing support and recognition;

u)    The need for integrated digital solutions and data-sharing platforms to streamline support and avoid duplication;

v)     Links to wider council initiatives, including City Health and Support Strategy and integrated neighbourhood teams;

w)   The importance of clear signposting and accessible “front door” for carers seeking help;

x)    Members praised the strategy as trauma-informed, inclusive, and comprehensive, with strong emphasis on young carers.

The Cabinet agreed:

1. To endorse the Plymouth Citywide All-Age Unpaid Carer Strategy 2025–2027 and ongoing activity to support unpaid carers in Plymouth.