Recognising the people who support someone close to them
That is why local organisations have come together to create a new logo to help recognise and support people who support others.
Many carers tell us they are helping someone with dementia, mental health conditions or neurodivergent needs. These situations can be especially demanding, bringing both emotional and practical pressures that can build up over time.
Unpaid carers often step in day to day when someone is unwell or going through treatment. They are the quiet force that keeps families going and helps health and care services cope with increasing demand.
But despite the difference they make every day, many carers still feel unseen and unsure where to turn.
Across North Yorkshire, more than 53,000 people provide unpaid care. Many do this alongside work, study or their own health needs. National data shows they are more likely to report poorer health themselves.
For many, it takes reaching a point of strain before they realise they need support.
Recognising young carers
Young carers often tell us they do not feel fully recognised for the role they play.
Some are helping to care for a parent, brother, sister or another family member, while also trying to manage school, friendships and their own wellbeing.
That can affect confidence, energy and how they feel day to day.
The free Young Carers Support App offers clear information, simple tools and details of local and national support. It is designed to help young carers feel more informed and a bit more in control of what they are dealing with.
Making sure young carers are part of this conversation is an important step in helping them feel seen and valued.
What local carers tell us
The experiences people share with us show just how much pressure can build up 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 I needed support too. Anything that makes that support more visible will help others before they reach crisis point.”
These experiences are a reminder of why visible, easy to recognise support matters. When people know help is there, they are more likely to reach out earlier.
Support already happening in our hospitals
Craven
In Craven, local NHS services are taking steps to better recognise and support people who care for someone close to them, particularly during hospital stays and when someone is coming home.
At Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, there is a focus on making sure carers are identified, informed and involved. This includes:
- Helping carers understand what to expect during a hospital stay and discharge
- Making sure carers know about their right to a carers’ assessment
- Treating carers as part of the care team, including flexible visiting
- Involving carers in planning what happens next, including support at home
There is also recognition of the pressures faced by young carers, and the need to make sure they can access the right support.
The Trust works with Carers' Resource to provide practical help, including a Home from Hospital service to support people returning home.
York and Scarborough
There are already local examples that show why this kind of recognition matters.
At York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Carer Hub describes a carer simply as anyone who looks after a friend or family member, whether or not they use that label.
The hub offers rest areas, quiet spaces and practical information, helping people feel more comfortable and supported when someone they care for is in hospital.
The new logo builds on this by giving a clear, visible sign that support is available.
Harrogate and Ripon
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is also taking steps to recognise and support carers.
The trust offers a carers passport, which gives people more flexibility when the person they care for is in hospital. This can include extended visiting and small practical comforts that make a difficult time a bit easier.
Like others, the trust uses a simple definition of a carer, focusing on the support people give rather than labels. This shared approach is helping to create a more consistent experience across services.
Richmond and Northallerton
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has strengthened its commitment through an updated carers charter.
This sets out clear promises, including treating carers as part of the care team, keeping them informed, involving them in decisions and offering guidance throughout hospital stays and discharge.
It is a practical way of making sure carers feel recognised and respected.
Further guidance for carers in York and Scarborough
York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals have also produced detailed guidance for carers, setting out how they will identify carers early, involve them in planning and communicate clearly.
This includes practical support such as rest spaces, clear information and help navigating hospital processes.
These are not just commitments on paper. They show how support is already being put into practice and how the new logo can help people find it more easily.
A shared promise to recognise carers
All of this has led to a group of local health and care organisations creating the Supporting those who support others logo.
It is a simple visual sign that says: we understand what you are dealing with, and support is available here.
Whether someone is looking online, reading a leaflet or walking into a waiting room, seeing the logo can offer reassurance at the right moment. It can be the thing that helps someone realise they are not on their own.
We are encouraging organisations across York and North Yorkshire to use the logo. It is a small step, but one that can make a real difference in helping people feel seen and supported.
Organisations supporting this
Alongside people with lived experience, a number of organisations have come together to develop the logo:
These are:
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Carers Plus Yorkshire
- York Carers Centre
- North Yorkshire Council
- City of York Council
- Healthwatch North Yorkshire
- Yorkshire Care Alliance
This logo is a simple way to help people recognise where support is available when they are looking after someone they care about.
