Copy - 25/26 - Supporting Unpaid Carers in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire's progress on delivering the strategy 2025 - 2026

Carers in Pembrokeshire - Census 2021

Number of carers by sex and age

• The value of unpaid carers in Pembrokeshire is £442m/yr. The average value of care provided by each unpaid carer is £34,303/yr.

• 10.6% of Pembrokeshire population are unpaid carers (10.5% of Welsh population are unpaid carers)

• 12,885 people identified themselves as an unpaid carer

• 5,290 (41%) were male and 7,590 (59%) female

• 8,290 were working aged carers, aged between 26 and 64 years

• 380 were young carers aged between 5 and 17 years

• 34% of carers provided more than 50 hours of care each week

Hours of care per week provided by sex

Number of carers registered with Carers Services

Community Connectors

316

134

No. of carers in 25/26

No. of carers in 24/25

Priority 1

Improve the early identification and self-identification of Carers including Young Carers and Young Adult Carers

Carers ID Cards

Number of registered carers

What will success look like?

925

841

886

• Information will be consistent and visible in communities and online
• More staff / organisations will be Carer Aware
• 10% increase in teams who have Investors in Carers

• 10% increase in number of carers registered with Carers Services
• 10% increase in carers receiving support
• Increased number of benefits that Carers ID Cards provide unpaid carers

25 / 26 Target

25/ 26 Q2 Actual

24 / 25 Actual

Investors in Carers Awards

Number of benefits

21

76

20

34

34

24 / 25 Actual

25 / 26 Target

25/ 26 Actual

25/ 26 Actual

24 / 25 Actual

Wellbeing events

Carers Support Pembrokeshire

2025

2025

Catalysts for Care

Assessments of Carers Needs

83

462

96 micros

2025/2026

2025/2025

24/25

Carers Support Groups

Priority 2

58 carers support groups

96 micros

Ensure a range of services is available to support the well-being of Carers of all ages, in their life alongside caring

25/26

Carers with Carers Emergency Cards

12

485

2025/2026

2024/2025

What will success look like?

Carers Breaks

• Carers will be informed of their right to an assessment of their caring needs
• Carers will know how to plan for an emergency
• A short breaks model will be developed
• An increase in Carers accessing courses that support their wellbeing
• An increase in number of peer support groups / networks
• An increase in support for young carers

Carers Grants

Passport to Leisure

43

44

24/25

25/26

332

429

2024/2025

2025/2026

2025 - 26

2025 - 26

Scolton Carers Pass

209

Carers parking passes 2025/26

Residential respite

Travel Factsheet for Carers

Respite Project

Scolton Manor Carers Pass

• Responding to carer feedback about the difficulty to book residential respite
• This will continue to be funded for 2025-26 - 2 x respite beds
• Positive response from carers: "This is really good news and much needed"

Carers Breaks - Recent developments

• Free parking pass and refreshments to unpaid carers with a Carers Recognition Card
• 209 carer passes

Timeout for Carers

• Grants to voluntary and community groups to provide breaks for unpaid carers
• Administered in partnership with PAVS
• 13 projects awarded funding for carers of all ages
• Activities include arts and crafts, horse riding, wellbeing sessions and nature activities
• All added to Carer Support West Wales and promoted across networks
• Positive feedback received to date

CareFree

• UK social enterprise working with hotel industry
• Hotels donate rooms
• Carers register with CareFree and can choose their hotel break
• Need to develop more opportunities in Pembrokeshire and Wales

Carers Breaks - Passport to Leisure

I wouldn't have thought of myself as a carer until my friend persuaded me to ring up for a carers card. Now we go to the gym together, as often as we can, when our children are in school. It keeps us going!

It has been transformative. It's a break that I don't feel guilty about taking for myself. By improving my physical health I have also improved my mental resilience and confidence

I'm not able to work because I care 24/7 and can't afford the membership. When someone is able to look after my partner, I go straight to the leisure centre and vent off all my frustrations and anger there rather than at home! I feel a lot better afterwards.

• Accessed through Carers ID / Recognition Card

• 25/26 – 429 Memberships

• 23/24 – Extended to young carers

• sessions accessed (April 2025 - December 2025)

• All age Carers

• Regional rollout and shared learning

I don't know how I would manage without my free membership. It gets me out of the house to do something I enjoy.

It keeps me sane! I love the gym, I put my headphones on and try and forget what faces me at home.

I have met some lovely people and if I have time we all go for a cuppa in the cafe afterwards.

Priority 3

Education

Support in the workplace

Young Carers Padlet Young Carers ID Card 'I can show the [Young Carers] card to teachers and reception staff if I’m late and I don’t have to explain out loud what it’s for. The teachers see the card, ask if everything is ok and then I can just get on with my day' Promoting awareness of Young Carers National TV Coverage of Pembs Young Carer

Employers for Carers membershipSupporting PCC staff who are balancing work with a caring role. - SMEs = Small to Medium sized Enterprises. An organisation that has fewer than 250 employees

Support Carers to access and maintain education, training and employment opportunities

Carers Leave Act 2023 From April 2024, this will introduce a new and flexible entitlement to one week’s unpaid leave per year for employees who are providing or arranging care for a relative or dependant

What will success look like?

• Increase in Carers of all ages receiving help to continue or access education, employment and training
• Increase the number of schools and colleges who have nominated Carer leads.
• Statutory organisations have Carer Policies that strengthen their commitments to support working Carers to balance work and their caring responsibilities.
• Evidence that public sector procurement processes and contracts include recognition of unpaid Carers

Milford Haven school During a social care career session in Milford Haven School a couple of students were proud to say that they work in social care as young carers. It was a great opportunity for their class to hear their experiences of what social care really involves. ACHIEVED GOLD INVESTORS IN CARERS AWARD Please listen to the video below to hear what Roxy and Poppy have to say about being an unpaid carer, the qualities required, the challenges they face and the support they receive.

Supported Employment ProjectsSupporting PCC staff who are balancing work with a caring role. "Being a parent of a disabled child can be very isolating. This has given my opportunity for company"

Carers Support West Wales

Digital Connections Pembrokeshire

2025/2026

2024/2025

187,687

111,991

Website hits

Pembrokeshire Digital Connections is available to everyone in Pembrokeshire who needs support to get online whether that's building confidence, learning digital skills, accessing equipment and affordable data.Includes support around Technology Enabled Care.

Social media impressions

241,668

410,817

Priority 4

Info

Support Carers to become digitally included

What will success look like?

172

• Proactive use of bilingual web based platforms and digital technology by Carers to access information and support

• Increased Carers reporting that they are digitally included and connected.
• Increase in usage of online support by Carers.
• Carers will be able to identify what support is available to them to get online.
• Carers will be able to identify different platforms and technologies available to support them in their caring role

• Carers with limited transport options having alternative ways of connecting with services

2025/2026

CONNECT IT CARERS

VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS

• Carer Virtual Reality project launched
• Supporting carers to access experiences not otherwise available
• Visits to Japan - Relaxation and improved sleep

2024/2025

2025/2026

Number of carers supported

63

33

I am a regular user of the gym and also attend a number of the classes offered by the Leisure Centre. I am a registered unpaid carer to both my disabled elderly parents. The ability to exercise and interact with others has a very positive affect on both my physical and mental wellbeing. Without this facility I would find life difficult as I have always found exercise to be the key to relieving any stress in my life. After a class I am always in a far more positive state of mind ready to get on with the day. The instructors and Centre staff are very friendly and helpful which is another huge benefit when using the Centre facilities.

Using the leisure centre has been incredibly beneficial for both my physical and mental well-being. It has provided a much-needed break from my daily responsibilities, allowing me to recharge. Having time away to focus on myself has significantly improved my mental health, reducing feelings of stress and isolation. Without this registered carer membership, accessing the support and services, would have been significantly more challenging. It has played a crucial role for ensuring that caregiver like myself can continue.

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CSP - Referral Map Q3 -2025-2026