22nd July 2026
For many carers, looking after someone is simply seen as part of everyday life. They are husbands caring for wives, children supporting parents and partners helping those they love through illness, disability or age-related conditions, but behind these caring roles are people who often need support themselves.
Thanks to funding from the LGA Foundation, Newcastle Carers has been able to provide dedicated support for older carers across Newcastle, helping people access advice, practical help and emotional support at a time when they need it most.
The funding has enabled the charity to take a proactive and highly personalised approach, reaching carers who may otherwise struggle to access support or who do not recognise themselves as carers at all.
We heard the story of one older gentleman who is currently caring for his wife, who requires significant day-to-day support. Alongside his caring responsibilities, he was experiencing hearing difficulties, making it difficult to arrange appointments, contact services and access help when he needed it. Rather than expecting him to navigate the system alone, Newcastle Carers was able to visit him at home, work around his availability and provide support in a way that suited his circumstances.
The funding has also allowed staff to proactively contact older people who may have lost touch with services, checking in regularly and offering support before problems escalate.
Claire Briston, Impact and Policy Director at Newcastle Carers, said, “The funding gives us the flexibility to respond to what older carers actually need. Every caring situation is different, and being able to tailor our support makes a huge difference. Sometimes it’s simply having the time to pick up the phone and check how someone is coping, or arranging to meet them somewhere that works for them.”
“One of the things we’ve really valued about working with the LGA Foundation is the trust they’ve placed in us. They listened to the challenges we were seeing on the ground and gave us the flexibility to respond in the way that would have the biggest impact for carers.”
Many carers do not seek support until they are struggling. Newcastle Carers estimates that it can take years for someone to identify themselves as a carer, particularly older people who often see caring for a spouse or family member as simply part of their role.
Claire said, “We regularly meet people who say, ‘I’m not a carer, I’m just looking after my husband’ or ‘I’m just helping my mam’, but caring can have a huge impact on your wellbeing, your confidence and your social life. That’s why it’s so important that carers know support is available.”
The charity hopes that by sharing stories of the people they support, more carers will recognise when they need help and feel confident reaching out.
The LGA Foundation provides funding to charities and community organisations across the North East, helping them respond to local needs and create lasting positive change. For Newcastle Carers, that support is helping ensure that older carers across the city are not facing their challenges alone.
Find out more about Newcastle Carers at https://www.newcastlecarers.org.uk or contact us on enquiries@lga-foundation.org to discuss how we could support your organisation in 2026 and beyond.