Carer Friendly recognition achieved for Wealden District Council

 

Care for the Carers is an independent charity that has supported unpaid carers across East Sussex since 1989, working with communities, organisations, and service providers to raise awareness.

 

The ‘Carer Friendly’ award highlights the council’s strong commitment to creating a carer-friendly workplace and community. This includes supporting national awareness campaigns and developing carer-friendly policies to make sure that employees feel valued and supported. It is the first time that it has been awarded to a council.

 

Key initiatives include the introduction of Carers Champions at the council, who are on hand to support colleagues balancing work with caring responsibilities and ‘Think Carer’ staff training, to deepen employees’ understanding of carers’ experiences to enable them to provide better support and signposting to colleagues and customers.

 

To mark the occasion, Jennifer Twist, Chief Executive Officer at Care for the Carers, presented the award to Councillor Greg Collins, who accepted it on the council’s behalf.

 

Councillor Greg Collins, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party) and lead councillor for Finance, HR and Customer Services, said, “This award not only acknowledges the council’s commitment to existing staff, but also shows potential job seekers that we care. We understand that many employees have responsibilities outside of work, and we’re proud to be recognised for the support we offer carers. By supporting our staff in this way, we are ultimately enhancing the quality of service we provide to our customers too. Being a supportive employer is simply the right thing to do.”

 

Care for the Carers praised the council for taking meaningful steps to improve life for staff who are carers.

 

Jennifer Twist from Care for the Carers said, “Achieving Carer Friendly accreditation isn’t just about recognising the dedication of employees who care—it’s about building a more compassionate, supportive workplace that benefits everyone. There are 14,000 carers in the Wealden district and I encourage other organisations and businesses to take this important step. By doing so, you not only show your commitment to your staff’s wellbeing but also to enhancing your reputation, boost employee morale, and create a positive, inclusive culture that sets you apart.”

 

Mims Davies added, “As a previous carer myself, I am really pleased to see Wealden District Council paving the way for others in making this commitment to support their carers with their workforce. I would be very keen to support other businesses and organisations to achieve this too.

Being a carer touches everyone – you are either a carer now, will care for someone at some point in your life, or will need to be cared for yourself.

I hope that others can follow and offer their staff and community support to make this role easier alongside employment and I have staff members who juggle this too and know what it means to your team.”