Table of Contents
‘Informal’ carers are people who look after relatives, friends or others in an unpaid or unsupported capacity. They span the life course and include young carers, informal kinship carers of children and young people, and adults who care for those who have a disability, long‑term illness, mental health difficulty, substance use issue, or age‑related support need.
In the 2021 Census, more than 310,000 people (one in 11) in Wales said they were providing unpaid care (10.5%) and over 107,000 people in Wales provided over 50 hours of unpaid care each week. In recognition that there is a pressing need for carers in Wales to get more help, the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee launched its report “At breaking point” The urgent need to improve support for unpaid carers in April 2026.
This ExChange conference series explores some of the types of informal care throughout the life course – how it is experienced at different times of life, the challenges that carers face, and recommendations and toolkits for change.
Introduction
Kate Cubbage
Director, Carers Trust Wales
Premieres on 8th June 2026, 10am
Webinars
Nearest Relatives Resources – Empowering carers in the mental health system
This session presents research on Nearest Relatives and Approved Mental Health Professionals under the Mental Health Act, introducing a free online resource for Nearest Relatives.
The study highlights emotional challenges and a lack of information/support for carers about the role as well as the legal changes in this area.
Presenters:
Professor Judy Laing, University of Bristol;
Dr Kev Stone, University of South Wales;
Dr Jeremy Dixon, Cardiff University
Date: Weds 10th June
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: Online, Teams
From problematic tasks to manageable roles:
Supporting young carers as a large but diverse population.
This webinar discusses a mixed methods study of the young carer population. Ed will present a model of the young carer spectrum, highlighting the impacts of varying caring responsibilities and support needs.
The session will also cover key questions on supporting all young carers, the roles of specialist, mainstream, and family support, and the challenges of engaging marginalised individuals.
Presenter: Ed Janes, Cardiff University
Date: Mon 22nd June 2026
Time: 12:00-13:00
Location: Online, Teams
Beyond the Breaking Point: Addressing the Civic Debt of Unpaid Care in Wales
What would social care look like if the value of unpaid care as Civic Value were measured as rigorously as economic savings?
This webinar discusses the 2026 Senedd report, ‘Unpaid Carers: At Breaking Point’, and a Democratic Framework that positions carers as civic experts whose insights should inform policy, not be sidelined.
Presenter: Dr Maria Cheshire-Allen, Swansea University
Date: Tues 16th June
Time: 12:00-13:00
Location: Online, Teams
Raised By Relatives:
The Experiences of Black and Asian Kinship Carers in England
In England, approximately 120,000 children live in kinship care, most without formal kinship arrangements. Children from minority ethnic backgrounds, particularly Black children, are underrepresented in these arrangements.
This webinar discusses the experiences of Kinship carers from Black and Asian communities and highlights the issues of insufficient housing provision, lower incomes, racism and harmful assumptions about the support networks of these communities.
Presenter: Dr Priya Tah, University of Oxford
Date: Weds 24th June
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: Online, Teams
Podcast
PODCAST #1: Insights from family carers and professionals on unintentional ‘carer harm’ in Ireland – Sarah Donnelly
Releases on 12th June, 12pm
PODCAST #2 with Rose, an informal carer, and CASCADE researcher Lorna Stabler about Informal Kinship Care of children & young people
Releases on 18th June, 12pm
Resources
Coming soon…
