Website of the Department of Health

Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own

The carers' strategy sets out the Government's short-term agenda and long-term vision for the future care and support of carers

The carers' strategy is underpinned by £255 million to implement some immediate steps alongside with medium and long-term plans.

New commitments in the carers’ strategy include: £150 million towards planned short breaks for carers; £38 million towards supporting carers to enter or re-enter the job market and £6 million towards improving support for young carers. Other schemes include the piloting of annual health checks for carers to help them stay well and training for GPs to recognise and support carers.   A more integrated and personalised support service for carers will be offered through easily accessible information, targeted training for key professionals to support carers, and pilots to examine how the NHS can better support carers.

• Download Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own (PDF, 2155K)
• Download summary (PDF, 829K)
• Download summary - Arabic (PDF, 825K)
• Download summary - Bengali (PDF, 867K)
• Download summary - French (PDF, 824K)
• Download summary - Gujarati (PDF, 865K)
• Download summary - Polish (PDF, 823K)
• Download summary - Portugese (PDF, 816K)
• Download summary - Punjabi (PDF, 809K)
• Download summary - Somali (PDF, 795K)
• Download summary - Turkish (PDF, 832K)
• Download summary - Urdu (PDF, 13808K)
• Download easy read version of strategy - exec summary (PDF, 3016K)
• Download Department for Work and Pensions impact assessment (PDF, 181K)
• Download Department of Health/ Department for Children, Schools and Families impact assessment - updated 19 September 2008 (PDF, 272K)