The Carers Support Hub initiative was launched in 2024 to provide structured support, resources and peer networking opportunities for carers across the Western Trust area. In response to direct feedback from carers—who highlighted difficulties in accessing information, services, and emotional support—the Trust developed three hubs in key locations:
- Foyle Arena (Derry/L’Derry)
- Limavady
- Enniskillen.
These hubs aim to bridge the gap between carers and support services, offering a welcoming and easily accessible space where carers can receive guidance, participate in activities, and connect with others in similar circumstances.
The development of the Carers Support Hub was built on a co-production model, ensuring carers were involved in all stages of planning and implementation. The approach included:
- Carer Involvement in Planning – Carers worked alongside the Carers Support Coordinator and GP MDT Social Work Teams to shape the structure and format of the hubs.
- Needs Assessment – Direct feedback was gathered to identify what types of support, activities, and interventions carers needed most.
- Service Integration – A multi-agency approach was taken, ensuring the hubs provided access to health checks, falls prevention advice, first aid training, benefits guidance, and social care support.
- Flexible Engagement Model – Hubs were designed as drop-in sessions to remove barriers to participation, ensuring carers could engage as their schedules allowed.
- Diverse Programme of Activities – Sessions included a balance of practical support (e.g., training, legal and financial advice) and wellbeing-focused activities (e.g., walking groups, craft sessions, relaxation and pamper therapies).
This user-driven model ensured that the hubs were not just a service but a dynamic and evolving space shaped by carers’ voices.
The Carers Support Hubs have demonstrated strong early success, with measurable impact in several key areas:
- 38 carers actively engaged in shaping and participating in hub activities.
- Enhanced peer support, with carers expressing high value in meeting others with shared experiences.
- Increased access to social care support, with every session offering one-on-one opportunities to discuss concerns with social care professionals.
- Service accessibility – The drop-in model has removed structural barriers, allowing carers to participate at their convenience.
- Holistic approach to carer wellbeing – The combination of practical support and emotional wellbeing activities has contributed to improved resilience and mental health for carers.
The Carers Support Hub model has demonstrated its value as a sustainable approach to strengthening carer support services. Moving forward, the following strategic actions are being considered:
- Enhanced Consultation & Representation – Carers have voiced the need for greater inclusion in decision-making about carer services within the Trust. A more formal consultation process is being explored.
- Expansion of the Hub Model – Based on success to date, we are assessing the feasibility of expanding hubs into additional localities and increasing the frequency of sessions.
- Strengthening Multi-Agency Collaboration – We aim to broaden our partnerships with statutory, voluntary, and community sector organisations to provide a wider range of services within the hubs.
- Sustainability Planning – We are developing a long-term strategy to ensure the hubs remain a core part of the Trust’s carer support framework, with a focus on securing dedicated funding and embedding the initiative into wider regional policy.
By embedding the Carers Support Hubs into the Western Trust’s long-term engagement strategy, we aim to create a sustainable, co-produced model that truly reflects the needs of carers and provides long-term, meaningful support.
