Spotlight on Care – Listening to the Voices Behind Unpaid Caring

What happens when the people who spend their lives caring for others are rarely asked about their own experiences? The latest edition of Spotlight on Care on Soar Sound sets out to answer that question by giving carers the opportunity to tell their stories in their own words.

The programme was recorded to coincide with Leicester City Council’s Carers Conference on 10th June 2026, but its significance extends far beyond a single event. At its heart are a series of personal testimonies from people whose lives have been shaped by caring responsibilities, often over many years and sometimes over many decades.

The conversations reveal experiences that are rarely discussed in public. Contributors speak about caring for parents, partners, children, relatives and friends through disability, dementia, mental ill health, autism, long-term illness and end-of-life care. Several describe providing care while managing disabilities and health conditions of their own. Others reflect on caring from a young age, balancing education, work and family responsibilities alongside the needs of those they support.

One striking theme runs throughout the interviews. Many contributors did not initially think of themselves as carers. They simply saw themselves as doing what was expected of them as a husband, wife, daughter, son, granddaughter, parent or family member. For some, it took years before they discovered that support services even existed.

The testimonies also challenge assumptions about who carers are. They are not only older people looking after ageing relatives. They include working-age adults, younger people, people with disabilities, people from different cultural backgrounds, and people supporting several family members at the same time. Their experiences reveal the complexity of unpaid caring and the responsibilities that often remain hidden from wider public view.

Several contributors speak candidly about isolation. Caring can gradually reduce opportunities for employment, social activities, friendships and community participation. One interviewee describes losing their sense of identity through years of caring. Another reflects on the financial consequences of stepping back from paid employment. Others discuss the emotional burden of constantly navigating appointments, medication, transport, advocacy and bureaucracy while trying to maintain their own wellbeing.

Alongside these challenges, the programme also highlights resilience, mutual support and the importance of community. Many contributors describe the relief of finally meeting other carers who understand their experiences. Support groups, peer networks and community organisations emerge not simply as providers of information, but as places where people feel recognised, listened to and valued.

Perhaps the most important message from these conversations is that carers themselves need care, support and recognition. The people interviewed repeatedly return to the same conclusion: asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is often the first step towards sustaining the caring relationships that families and communities depend upon.

The podcast version includes the complete, unedited interviews, allowing listeners to hear the full depth and nuance of these experiences. While the broadcast edition has been edited for length, the extended recordings provide a valuable opportunity to hear directly from people whose voices are not often heard in discussions about health, social care and community support.

For listeners affected by the issues raised in this programme, information about carers’ assessments is available from Leicester City Council. A carers’ assessment considers how caring responsibilities affect a person’s health, wellbeing, work, family life and ability to maintain relationships.

Support is also available through the Leicester Carers Support Service, delivered by Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland. The service offers information, advice, support groups, wellbeing activities, training opportunities and one-to-one support for unpaid carers.

Several contributors mention the Carers Passport, which helps carers gain recognition across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and can support access to services and support, including within hospital settings.

Further information can be found at:

Leicester Carers Support Service:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/leics/our-services/leicester-carers-support-service-6ee29b94-528e-ec11-b820-0003ff4b0da1/

Leicester City Council Carers Information:
https://www.leicester.gov.uk/adult-social-care/support-carers

Carers Passport Information:
https://www.supportforcarers.org/what-we-offer/carers-passport