At Carers Support West Sussex, we know that supporting unpaid carers takes more than one organisation working alone. Strong partnerships help us create opportunities that improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and make a real difference to carers’ lives. But while social media can be a positive space, it’s important to recognise that it can also impact our wellbeing if we’re not careful. Like most things, it’s about finding the right balance.
A recent collaboration between Carers Support West Sussex, Carers Trust and Able2UK gave local carer, Debbie, the chance to attend a Lewis Capaldi concert. What might sound like a simple night out to most, was something so much more meaningful to Debbie.
More than a concert
Debbie has been caring for her eldest child since he was eight years old. Now 24, he lives with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a form of autism, alongside Asperger traits, OCD and body dysmorphia.
Over the years, Debbie has taken on countless responsibilities, from managing appointments and support to navigating complex systems and completing endless paperwork. Since becoming disabled herself, she and her husband now share their caring responsibilities, but the demands of caring remain a significant part of daily life.
Debbie first accessed support from Carers Support West Sussex when her son was a child. When he became an adult, that support ended and, like many carers, she found herself trying to navigate a new and often confusing system.
“I eventually reached a point where I simply couldn’t cope anymore,” Debbie explains.
Returning to Carers Support West Sussex helped her find the support she didn’t know existed and reminded her that she did not have to face everything alone.
An opportunity to be herself
Through a partnership opportunity involving Carers Trust and Able2UK, Debbie was offered tickets to see Lewis Capaldi perform live.
For Debbie, the opportunity represented much more than seeing one of her favourite artists.
“It gave me something that carers don’t often get: time for myself.”
As a disabled person, attending events can often bring additional challenges and uncertainty. Knowing that accessibility had been carefully considered helped remove many of those concerns.
“Knowing that Carers Trust and Able2UK had worked together to make the venue accessible meant I could go without the usual anxiety about whether I would be able to get in and where I would be able to sit.”
The experience exceeded her expectations.
“To then find myself right at the front, almost centre stage, was incredible.”
For one evening, Debbie was able to step away from the responsibilities that so often fill her days.
“No forms, no appointments, no worrying about finances or what needed doing next. I could just be me. I could listen to music, sing, laugh and simply be in the moment.”
The importance of being recognised
One aspect of Lewis Capaldi’s music resonated particularly strongly with Debbie.
His song Stay Love moved her because of its honest portrayal of caring and the realities many carers face every day.
“When I watched the video, I cried because I felt that Lewis had seen us.”
She describes the endless phone calls, the paperwork, the exhaustion and the way caring can sometimes leave you feeling disconnected from the life happening around you.
“So much of caring happens quietly and behind closed doors. We don’t do it for recognition, but being recognised matters. It tells carers that somebody sees the work, the love, the sacrifices and the things we give up along the way.”
For Debbie, that feeling of being seen was one of the most significant outcomes of the evening.
Why partnership working matters
Debbie’s story highlights the difference organisations can make when they work together.
Carers Support West Sussex understands the needs of unpaid carers across the county and helps identify those who could benefit from additional support and opportunities.
Carers Trust creates opportunities and raises awareness of the experiences of unpaid carers on a national scale.
Able2UK helps ensure those opportunities are genuinely accessible, removing barriers that might otherwise prevent people from taking part.
Together, these organisations created an experience that was meaningful, accessible and inclusive.
As Debbie puts it:
“I think the partnership between Carers Support West Sussex, Carers Trust and Able2UK is a wonderful example of what can happen when organisations work together.”
“Together, they created something that I could actually take part in.”
More than a night out
The concert also brought together people who understood the realities of caring.
“There was no need to explain ourselves. We could just enjoy being together.”
For Debbie, who also runs two Lewis Capaldi fan groups on Facebook, sharing the experience with fellow fans made the evening even more special.
But the biggest impact was something much simpler.
“For one evening, we weren’t just carers. We were fans, friends, laughing, singing, enjoying ourselves and making memories.”
Creating opportunities for carers
Partnership working is not simply about organisations collaborating. It is about combining strengths, expertise and resources to improve outcomes for carers.
Debbie’s experience demonstrates how powerful that can be.
By working together, organisations can remove barriers, create opportunities and help carers reconnect with their own interests, wellbeing and sense of identity.
For Debbie, it was more than a concert.
It was a reminder that carers are more than their caring role.
“We are seen. We are acknowledged. And the work we do is cherished.”
And that is exactly the kind of impact that strong partnerships can deliver.
