Ministerial Advisory Group for Unpaid Carers meeting: 10 December 2025

Kate Cubbage, Carers Alliance and Carers Trust Wales - Chair
Alyson Hoskins, ADSS Cymru/Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council - Deputy Chair
Dawn Bowden, Minister for Children and Social Care
Alistair Davey, Welsh Government
Denise Moultrie, Welsh Government
Suzanne Becquer-Moreno, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Rachel Wright Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board
Kim Dolphin, Carers Officers Learning and Improvement Network 
Bobbie-Jo Haarhoff, Unpaid Carer representative 
Albie Sutton, Young Carers Advisory Board
Rob Simkins, Carers Wales
Jon Antoniazzi, Carers Alliance and Marie Curie
David Watkins, Cwm Taff Morgannwg University Health Board
Valerie Billingham, Older People’s Commissioners Office
Nick Andrews, Swansea University
Dan Burrows, Cardiff University
Adam Frewen, Care Inspectorate Wales
Naomi Harper, Flintshire County Council 
Josie Yuen, Public Health Wales 
Tanya Tye, Cwm Taff Morgannwg University Health Board.
Anna Bird, Hywel Dda University Health Board
Ffion Scott, Young Carers Advisory Board
Naheed Annashraf, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Amanda Phillips, Welsh Government

In attendance

Siobhan O'Dwyer, Associate Professor, University of Birmingham 

Apologies

Jayne Newman, Unpaid Carer Representative
Lou Bushell-Bauers, Care Inspectorate Wales
Victoria Lloyd, Age Cymru
Myfanwy Moran, Head of Adult Services Newport
Sean O'Neill, Children in Wales 
Hannah Williams, Social Care Wales
Trudy Heald, Welsh Government

The Chair opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and noted apologies. 

Denise Moultrie noted that development of the strategy was in progress and thanked members of the Strategy subgroup for their ongoing support and input. Plans are in place to launch the public consultation on 12 January, allowing a full 12-week period before the pre-election phase begins on 8 April. Any delays or changes to these plans will be discussed with the steering group.

Final approval will depend on the post-election administration and the incoming minister. Members will be asked to support the consultation by sharing links widely to maximise responses and engagement.

Dan Burrows and Nick Andrews presented recent research findings on interventions for unpaid carers, including evaluations of digital support programmes. Dan Burrows summarised a UK-based evaluation of the ‘WHO I Support’ programme for dementia carers, along with additional studies of digital interventions for carers of people with psychosis. He noted that the studies demonstrated the importance of relational and interactive approaches.

It was noted that Hywel Dda University Health Board had commissioned a research project at Swansea University to investigate the experiences and barriers faced by young carers during hospital discharge, aiming to inform staff training and service adaptation.

Nick Andrews noted that the community of practice for carers research, terms of reference were now in place and would be shared with members for the MAG via email and quarterly meetings will now take place. Members were invited to propose discussion themes by contacting Nick directly. 

Denise Moultrie reported that resources to promote young carer ID cards had been distributed to all local authorities, with feedback received from 19 out of 22. Responses varied, with some authorities satisfied with their schemes and others citing resource constraints.

Denise Moultrie explained that some local authorities offer concessions with ID cards, mainly for leisure and food, but travel concessions would require national-level negotiation.

Denise Moultrie announced that the Minister had agreed £40,000 funding for the Young Carers Festival in 2026, with additional support from education under consideration.

The Minister highlighted the need for improved consistency in carers’ needs assessments across local authorities and announced plans to write to all council leaders to reinforce their legal duties and the importance of timely, person-centred support.

The Minister confirmed that the national Short Breaks Scheme and Carers Support Fund had been extended for a further 3 years, representing a £15.75 million investment. 

The Minister’s noted the signing of the Young Carers Covenant at an event which took place at the Senedd building on 13 November 2025.

Alyson Hoskins reported that an The Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru project board had been established with regional leads to identify and share best practice in carers’ needs assessments. The board has identified and collated best practice examples and is using peer review methodology to support consistent approaches. Work is underway with Social Care Wales and partners to review and develop resources, including videos and tools, for completion by year-end. 

The group aims to engage with carers early in the new year to ensure their input, and exploring a second phase to address outstanding issues, integrate findings into the national strategy, and strengthen links between needs assessments and respite provision.

The chair welcomed Siobhan O’Dwyer, Associate Professor of Social Care, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham to the meeting to present her research on suicide and homicide risk among carers. 

Siobhan advocated for including suicide prevention in the national carers’ strategy, raising awareness among professionals, ensuring suicide prevention training, and evaluating the impact of interventions. 

Group members discussed the importance of peer-led support and the need to address intersectional risks among subgroups of carers and suggested the integration of suicide awareness into carers needs assessments and e-learning packages for professionals could be explored further.

Kate and Ffion reported on the recent signing of the Young Carers Covenant on 13 November by the Minister for Children and Social Care and Albert Heaney, Chief Social Care Officer. The Young Carers Covenant is a UK-wide commitment to ten key outcomes for young carers, including early identification, access to education and support, and the right to thrive. 

Welsh Government and several local authorities have already signed, and Kate and Ffion encouraged other organisations, schools, and individuals to do the same.

The group discussed the potential to promote the covenant more widely. It was suggested that awareness-raising activities could be aligned with Carers Action Day in March 2026 for greater impact.

The extension of the Short Breaks Scheme and Carers Support Fund for three years, from April 2026 to March 2029 with funding of £10.5 million for short breaks and £5.25 million for the Carers Support Fund was confirmed. Carers Trust Wales and regional partnership boards would continue to deliver the programmes. 

The group discussed the importance of ensuring provision reaches target groups such as those not currently accessing services.  Kate Cubbage agreed to investigate a potential issue raised.

Clarification was sought on the status of the £1 million ring-fenced funding for carers engagement and hospital discharge, its relationship to the Regional Integration Fund, and future funding beyond 2027. Denise Moultrie agreed to follow up and provide written clarification.

Confirmed all actions completed.

Bobbie-Jo raised kinship carers and Kate Cubbage agreed to follow up on this with Bobbie-Jo outside of the meeting.

Kate Cubbage confirmed that letters regarding the extension of Short Breaks and Carers Support Fund would be sent once grant agreements are finalised.

To be confirmed.