The Economy, Culture and Skills Committee met on Monday 12 January 2026 to discuss the challenges and support for unpaid carers in London. The committee heard from representatives of Barnet Carers, Enfield Carers Centre, and Bromley Well, who detailed the difficulties faced by carers, including financial strain, lack of awareness of entitlements, and the impact on their wellbeing and employment prospects. The discussion also covered the role of local carer organisations in supporting unpaid carers and the need for greater identification and tailored support services.

Support for Unpaid Carers in London

The Economy, Culture and Skills Committee held a detailed discussion on the multifaceted challenges faced by unpaid carers across London. Representatives from Barnet Carers, Enfield Carers Centre, and Bromley Well shared insights into how their organisations work with local councils and health services to support carers. A key theme was the critical need for better identification of carers, with many individuals unaware of their entitlement to support.

Mike Rich, Chief Executive Officer of Barnet Carers, highlighted the close partnership his organisation has with Barnet Council, including involvement in developing the borough's Local Carers Strategy and chairing an Engagement Board with carer representation. He noted that Barnet Carers offers between 500 and 600 carers' needs assessments annually, with a growing number of these being completed online. However, he also acknowledged the significant financial strain on carers and the difficulty in accessing clear information, particularly on council websites, referencing a recent investigation by Martin Lewis [CBE, Financial Journalist] into misinformation regarding council tax discounts.

Carla Brain, Young Carers Project Manager at Enfield Carers Centre, explained that her organisation's young carers project is funded by the National Lottery, not the local authority, and that adult carer services have seen funding remain static despite rising costs. She emphasised the significant issue of hidden young carers, with many children not being identified due to inaccurate school census data and a lack of awareness among GPs and hospitals. Brain highlighted the profound impact of caring on young carers' education, with a significant percentage experiencing persistent absence from school and lower attainment levels. She also pointed out the challenges in providing adequate transport for young carers and the need for more tailored support services.

David Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Bromley Well and Bromley Third Sector Enterprise, described Bromley Well as a universal wellbeing and early intervention service jointly commissioned by the local authority and the Integrated Care Board (ICB). He stressed the importance of co-production in developing the borough's Carers Plan and the creation of an all-agency, all-age Carers Charter. Walker also raised concerns about the increasing complexity of carers' needs since the COVID-19 pandemic and the geographical challenges in Outer London boroughs that make accessing support more difficult. He specifically addressed the needs of mutual carers, where individuals in a relationship care for each other, noting the particular anxieties around bereavement and the need for robust contingency plans.

Challenges in Service Provision and Funding

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the challenges faced by carer support organisations, including funding constraints and the increasing complexity of needs.

Funding Pressures: Carla Brain from Enfield Carers Centre noted that reductions in local authority funding create gaps in services that the voluntary and community sector (VCS) attempts to fill. She stated that there is a need for more investment in young carers' services in Enfield. Mike Rich from Barnet Carers acknowledged that while his organisation has not experienced in-year cuts, there is concern about future contract renewals, anticipating potential reductions in funding due to local authority pressures. He also highlighted a broader reduction in funding across the voluntary sector and government, impacting the sustainability of borough-based organisations. David Walker from Bromley Well, while fortunate to have a longer-term contract, also pointed to the ongoing challenge of rising costs, including National Insurance contributions and the need to recruit and retain staff amidst a cost-of-living crisis.

Complexity of Needs: All three representatives noted an increase in the complexity of needs among carers. Mike Rich mentioned that 22 per cent of carers in Barnet are registered disabled, and many experience mild to moderate mental health challenges. David Walker highlighted that the complexity of needs has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, with multiple issues often affecting individuals.

Home Care Provision: The challenges associated with providing home care were also discussed. Carla Brain explained the difficulties in retaining and training home care staff due to flexible hours and unpredictable demand. She also highlighted issues with delays in installing necessary equipment in homes, which can place additional pressure on unpaid carers. Mike Rich noted that privately funded home care is expensive, with an hourly rate of around £28, making it unaffordable for many. He also described the logistical difficulties carers face in arranging even short periods of respite care and the psychological impact of having external carers come into the home.

Recommendations for Future Support

The committee and guests discussed potential actions that the Mayor of London and central government could take to improve support for unpaid carers.

Identification and Awareness: Mike Rich and Carla Brain both stressed the critical importance of improved identification of carers. Rich suggested a London-wide campaign to encourage individuals to identify as carers and come forward to local organisations. Brain echoed this, advocating for a London-wide campaign with visible messaging on public transport and in public spaces to raise awareness for both adult and young carers. Both also highlighted the need for more joined-up working between local authorities and health services to avoid duplication and improve service delivery.

Tailored Support and Services: Carla Brain called for more flexible, carer-friendly employment support and the development of accredited training programmes to help bridge gaps in carers' CVs. She also proposed a carer health passport, a single document that would allow carers to avoid repeatedly explaining their situation to different services. Brain also emphasised the need for targeted support for diverse communities in London, where cultural factors can sometimes prevent individuals from seeking help. She also suggested extending free transport provisions for young carers, particularly for travel to specialist hospitals in central London, and addressing the initial cost of travel cards.

Systemic Improvements: David Walker recommended encouraging all agencies to become carer-aware and to identify Carers' Champions within their own organisations. He pointed to the success of initiatives like the Carers Charter in Bromley and the importance of integrating carer considerations into new economic and transport initiatives. Walker also highlighted the positive impact of NHS pathways that identify carers at the point of hospital discharge. He concluded by stating that a significant issue is the under-identification of carers across London and beyond.

The meeting concluded with the Chair, Hina Bokhari OBE AM, expressing her commitment, along with the cross-party committee, to actioning the recommendations discussed to ensure carers feel seen and heard.

The meeting was attended by Hina Bokhari OBE AM (Chair), Anne Clarke AM (Deputy Chair), Alessandro Georgiou AM, Krupesh Hirani AM, Zack Polanski AM, Joanne McCartney AM, and Alex Wilson AM. Apologies were received from Marina Ahmad AM and Unmesh Desai AM.