Recognising the people who support someone close to them
Unpaid carers provide essential help for people living with illness or going through treatment. They are often the quiet force that keeps families together and helps health and care services manage increasing pressure. Yet despite the difference they make every day, many carers feel unseen and unsure where to turn for support.
Across North Yorkshire more than 53,000 people provide unpaid care, often alongside work, studies or their own health needs. National census information shows that people who provide this kind of support are more likely to report that their health is not good. Many reach a point of strain before they realise they need help.
What local carers tell us
The stories people share with us reflect the emotional and physical pressure that can build over time.
“My husband’s condition changed almost overnight. Suddenly I was sorting medication, organising appointments and looking after him around the clock. It is a lot to manage, especially when you do not know where to turn. Something as simple as a symbol that says we understand would make a real difference.”
“Caring for my dad is something I am proud to do, but it is exhausting. I often skip meals or cancel plans because he needs me. What makes it hardest is feeling like you have to go through it quietly. Knowing there is support, and being able to spot it easily, would make life feel less heavy.”
“I never saw myself as a carer. I was just helping my partner. It took a toll on me before I even realised that I needed support too. Anything that makes that support more visible will help others avoid reaching crisis point.”
These voices remind us why visible support matters. When people understand that they are not alone and that help is available, they are more likely to reach out before they reach breaking point.
Support already happening in our hospitals
There are already local examples of support that show why this recognition is so important. The Carer Hub at NHS York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes a carer as anyone who looks after a friend or family member, whether or not they use that label themselves. The hub provides rest areas, quiet spaces and practical information to help people feel welcome and understood when someone they care about is in hospital. The new logo builds on this approach by offering a clear visual sign that support is available.
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is also taking steps to recognise and support people who look after someone close to them. The trust offers a carers passport which gives people who support a friend or family member greater flexibility when the person they care for is in hospital, including extended visiting and access to small practical comforts. Like York and Scarborough, Harrogate defines a carer simply as someone who gives unpaid support because of illness, frailty or disability. This shared approach across local hospitals shows a growing commitment to recognising the people who support others and making their experience a little easier.
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals have also published detailed guidance for carers, setting out clear commitments that match the aims of the new icon. The Support for Carers leaflet explains how the Trust will recognise carers early, include them in planning, communicate clearly and provide spaces to rest along with practical help, information and guidance. It also outlines support with hospital processes, staff training and facilities to help people feel more comfortable when someone they care for is in hospital. These commitments show that the charter is already being put into practice locally and that the new logo will help carers find this support more easily.
A shared promise to recognise carers
All of this is why a group of local health and care organisations has created the Supporting those who support others logo. The logo acts as a simple visual prompt. It shows that the organisation displaying it understands the pressures faced by people who look after someone close to them, whether or not they identify as a carer.
Whether someone is searching for information online, reading a leaflet or walking into a waiting room, seeing the logo reassures them that this is a place that understands their situation and can offer support.
We encourage organisations across York and North Yorkshire to adopt the logo in their materials. Displaying this logo is a simple step that can make a real difference for people who support someone close to them. We hope you will join us in helping more people feel seen, valued and supported.
Organisations supporting this
Along with people caring for a loved one, local organisations have come together and helped to create the logo.
These are:
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- CarersPlus Yorkshire
- York Carers Centre
- North Yorkshire Council
- City of York Council
- Healthwatch North Yorkshire
- Yorkshire Care Alliance
This logo is one small step toward building a community where no one feels alone while looking after someone they care about.
