At Forward Carers, we believe that measuring impact is about much more than counting activities or reporting statistics.
Every year, we take time to look closely at what we’ve achieved together with Carers, Delivery Partners, commissioners, funders, volunteers and community organisations. Just as importantly, we look at what we’ve learned, where we can improve, and how we can make an even greater difference in the future.
That’s why we’re pleased to share our Impact Review 2025. The review brings together evidence from across our services, helping us understand whether the support we provide is leading to meaningful change in Carers’ lives and creating value for wider communities and systems.
Why do we produce an Impact Review?
Carers tell us every day about the realities of caring. The challenges they face are often complex, long-term and deeply personal. Whether someone is supporting an ageing parent, a disabled child, a partner with dementia or a loved one experiencing mental ill-health, caring can affect every aspect of life.
As a social enterprise, we believe we have a responsibility to understand whether the support we provide is helping Carers to achieve the outcomes that matter most to them.
Our Impact Review helps us answer important questions:
· Are Carers feeling more confident and informed?
· Are they better able to look after their own wellbeing?
· Are they feeling less isolated?
· Are our services reaching people who may otherwise go unsupported?
· Are we helping to reduce pressure on wider health and social care systems?
By measuring these outcomes, we can continue to improve our services, remain accountable to the people who fund and commission our work, and ensure Carers’ voices remain at the centre of service development.
What does the review include?
The review brings together information from across all of our services and programmes.
It includes data on the number of Carers supported, wellbeing outcomes, service quality, social value created through partnerships, and examples of how support has made a difference in people’s lives.
You’ll also find information about our work across Birmingham, Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall, Dorset and Wiltshire, alongside our wider efforts to create Carer Friendly Communities through employers, healthcare settings, schools, businesses and community organisations.
Alongside the numbers, the review includes stories and feedback from Carers themselves, helping to show the people behind the statistics and the difference that support can make.
What did we learn in 2025?
This year’s review shows the continued importance of early, preventative support.
In 2025, Forward Carers supported more than 8,000 Carers through information, advice, assessments, wellbeing support, groups, training and specialist services. Across our services, 98% of Carers rated their experience of support as good or very good, reflecting the commitment and expertise of staff and Delivery Partners working across our communities.
The review also demonstrates that support is leading to positive outcomes. Overall, 66% of Carers reported an improvement in wellbeing following support, while 76% said they felt more confident in their caring role. These are important findings because confidence, knowledge and wellbeing are often the foundations that help Carers continue caring safely and sustainably.
We were also encouraged to see the value of partnership working reflected in the results. Many of the outcomes achieved this year were only possible because of the local knowledge, specialist expertise and trusted relationships that our Delivery Partners bring to their communities.
Finally, the review highlights the wider impact of investing in Carers. Our analysis found that for every £1 invested in Forward Carers’ support services, £10.90 was saved within the health and social care system. This demonstrates the role that early support can play in helping Carers maintain their wellbeing, avoid crisis and reduce pressure on statutory services.
Creating Social Value
Supporting Carers is about more than delivering contracted services.
Throughout the year, we worked with Delivery Partners, community organisations, employers, healthcare providers and businesses to create additional opportunities and support for Carers. Together, we helped organisations become more Carer Friendly, trained Carer Champions, improved Carer identification in healthcare settings and secured additional funding and resources that extended the support available to families.
In 2025 alone, £2.79 million was invested through VCSE partnerships and local delivery, while more than 180 employers and organisations were supported to become more Carer Friendly. These activities help create communities where Carers are more likely to be recognised, understood and supported long before they reach crisis point.
For us, social value is not an add-on. It is central to our mission of creating Carer Friendly Communities where Carers are seen, heard and valued.
Help Shape the Future as a Forward Carers Director
Forward Carers has grown significantly over recent years, but our ambitions go much further. We’re pioneering new approaches to supporting unpaid Carers, harnessing innovation, technology and responsible AI alongside human-centred design to make support more accessible, personalised and effective. As we continue to grow, we’re creating new opportunities to reach more unpaid Carers, strengthen communities and help shape the future of Carer support.
To help us achieve that vision, we’re looking for exceptional people to join our Board of Trustees. Our Trustees provide strategic oversight, constructive challenge and specialist expertise, helping ensure we remain ambitious, sustainable and focused on delivering meaningful impact. If you’re excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of an innovative, top 100 social enterprise and can bring skills, insight or experience that will strengthen our Board, we’d love to hear from you.
To request our Trustee Information Pack, please contact Anna Smith at anna.smith@forwardcarers.org.uk. If you’d like an informal conversation about our roles and recruitment process, our Chief Executive, Simon Fenton, would be delighted to hear from you at simon.fenton@forwardcarers.org.uk.
Thank you
This review reflects the experiences and contributions of the Carers who use, shape and improve our services. It reflects the work of our Delivery Partners, community organisations, volunteers and staff teams who provide support every day. And it reflects the commitment of commissioners, funders and partners who continue to invest in support for unpaid Carers.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to creating more Carer Friendly Communities.
Read the Impact Review
We hope you find the review informative and useful.
Whether you’re a Carer, a commissioner, a partner organisation or simply interested in supporting unpaid Carers, we invite you to explore the report and learn more about the difference that can be achieved when Carers are recognised, valued and supported.
