The programme aims to:

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• tackle physical and mental health inequalities for unpaid carers, through providing practical and emotional support from professionals and peers

• reduce social isolation of unpaid carers, bringing them together in the community to to share in group activities with others

• provide invaluable respite from caring, through engaging creative activities, led by a team of professional artists

• encourage carers to support their own wellbeing, providing a freshly cooked lunch and refreshments so they can feel ‘cared for’.

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Project impact at a glance:

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• Consistent attendance: monthly events in both Eastbourne and Uckfield regularly reach capacity. Over 200 carers have attended Carers O’Clock sessions since 2021.

• Positive feedback: carers expressed appreciation for the supportive community that Carers O’Clock has created, with many describing the sessions as an essential source of respite and community​

"I look forward to these events every month.  I know that everyone there understands the difficulty of keeping our essential selves from disappearing amongst all the care needs"

• Wellbeing improvements: survey data revealed that 70% of participants felt the project had a positive impact on their mental health​ (Carers data), with many emphasising the importance of being with others with lived experience of caring.

• Diversity: groups which are known to be under-represented in other prgrammes (such as male, ethnically diverse and kinship carers) have been successfully engaged in growing numbers through Carers O’Clock and this engagement is being closely monitored.