From Insight to Action: Stronger Support for Carers

In 2024, Healthwatch Greenwich published a report exploring the experiences of Black and ethnic minority carers in Greenwich. Working alongside eight co-researchers and speaking to 38 carers, we identified a number of barriers affecting access to information, support, services, and opportunities to influence decision-making.

Our report highlighted challenges including difficulties finding clear information, cultural barriers within services, limited awareness of carers' rights and financial support, and concerns that carers' voices were not always being heard.

We are pleased to see the Royal Borough of Greenwich take a positive and proactive approach in responding to the report's findings and recommendations. Through ongoing engagement with carers and a commitment to co-production, a number of important developments have taken place, including:

  •  A new co-produced carers' guide with improved multilingual information.
  • Greater engagement with Black and Global Majority carers through community-based approaches and co-production.
  • Increased focus on carers' rights, benefits, and financial support.
  • The establishment of a Carers Partnership Board, creating new opportunities for carers to influence services and strategy.
  • Development of a new all-age carers strategy.

These developments demonstrate the value of listening to carers, acting on lived experience, and working collaboratively across organisations and communities to improve support for local people.

We are grateful to the carers who shared their experiences, the co-researchers who helped deliver the project, and colleagues at the Royal Borough of Greenwich who have embraced the findings and used them to help shape future improvements.

This is a powerful example of how community insight, partnership working, and a commitment to co-production can help drive meaningful change.

 

Read the full report: Here.

Read the updated response from the Royal Borough of Greenwich for May 2026 Here.

Are you a carer living in Greenwich? We'd love to hear about your experiences. Contact Healthwatch Greenwich on 020 8301 8340 or email info@healthwatchgreenwich.co.uk.

Do health and social care services know what you really think?

Share your ideas and experiences and help services hear what works, what doesn’t, and what you want from care in the future. 

Share your views

You might also be interested in