Your Voice Matters
Speak out, we will listen and respond.
Your experiences as a Carer matter.
By sharing your voice, you can help improve support for unpaid Carers and shape services for families across your community. Your feedback ensures the services that Forward Carers manage are underpinned by the direct voice of Carers.
Get involved and influence real change!
Why Your Voice Is Important
Many unpaid Carers tell us they feel:
- Invisible
- Unrecognised
- Unheard
- Overlooked when services are designed
But your experience makes you an expert.
By sharing your views:
- Future support is shaped by your lived experience, not assumptions by someone else
- The Carer support services that we manage will improve because we will listen and act
- Organisations like the NHS, councils, and charities become more responsive to real Carer needs
Your voice helps create real, lasting change for Carers
and families.
What You Can Gain
By joining the Carers Voice Programme, you can:
✔ Decide on the level of input and time you commit (online surveys or in-person focus groups)
✔ Share your experience in a safe and supportive way
✔ Influence Carer support services that we manage in Birmingham, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, Dorset and Wiltshire
✔ Help improve support for other Carers
✔ Be part of a community that values and listens
✔ Contribute to local and national change
3 Simple Steps to Get Involved
1. Sign Up
Join the programme to receive opportunities to share your views.
Receive, focus group invitations (refreshments or vouchers offered).
2. Choose How to Take Part
Decide on your level of input:
- Surveys/Consultations
- Workshops/ Focus groups
- Sharing your story
3. See the Difference You Make
Your feedback directly shapes services, support, and policy.
We’ll update you on improvements made from your feedback.
Real Changes Made by Carers
Carers involved in our programme have already helped to:
- Develop the Carers Photo ID Card
- Shape Health Liaison support in hospitals
- Co-produce resources and webpages with Young Carers
- Improve the online Carer’s Assessment platform
- Create a Digital Health information leaflet
- Enhance the What If (Emergency) Plan
- Influence services with local councils and NHS partners
- Launch new ways to engage Carers, including social media initiatives
This is the power of lived experience in action.
Your voice could shape the next improvement.
What Carer Say
Hear directly from Carers who have taken part in the programme:
Other Ways to Have Your Say
You can also make a difference beyond the programme:
- Support national campaigns (Carers UK, Carers Trust)
- Sign or start petitions to the UK Government and Parliament
- Take part in NHS or local council consultations
- Get involved in your local area:
Birmingham, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, Dorset, and Wiltshire
Forward Carers is committed to building Carer Friendly Communities, where every Carer is recognised, valued, and supported. Together, we can improve support for Carers everywhere.
Research Opportunities
We sometimes work with trusted partners, including universities and charities, who want to involve Carers in research. We:
- Carefully review all requests
- Ensure opportunities are relevant and respectful of Carers’ time
- Only share high-quality, appropriate research opportunities
If you would like to involve Carers in research, please complete our Research Request Form with full project details.
