Balancing life, work and caregiving

People's Experiences

For many years, people in unpaid caring roles have shared experiences of:

Isolation and loneliness
Loss and grief - including for relationships and future changes
A sense of self gradually disappearing
Overwhelm, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion

My work with family caregivers began in a hospital setting, supporting a carer's group asa staff representative. I witnessed first-hand the complexity, courage, and strength of people caring for loved ones - often without consistent support.

Development

Over time, I adapted programmes originally designed for health and social care professionals to meet the needs of caregivers, who were facing many of the same emotional and psychological challenges

This led to the development of a 12-week programme, The Art of Caring for Self and Others, which ran for 20 years.

Commissioned by NHS services, third sector organisations, and community adult learning providers, the programme supported hundreds of caregivers with responsive, emotionally attuned wellbeing support.

Reports

84% showed a significant increase in mental wellbeing (WEMWBS)
90% experienced increased enjoyment and social connection
91% felt more confident in their ability to cope with their caring role
89% developed more positive ways of responding to stressful situations

Some participants also went on to create their own peer support networks

Measurements

Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)
Weekly check-ins and reflective feedback
Facilitator observation
End-of-programme and follow-up evaluation

Focus

The programme supported people to:

retain a sense of identity while caring for others
develop self-compassion and reduce self-blame
understand and regulate stress responses
respond more steadily to challenging behaviours and situations
navigate feelings of guilt, anxiety, and overwhelm

Voices from Caregivers

“When you are caring for someone, you are so alone with it all… But there’s a light in my world.”
— Family caregiver

“The programme gave me the confidence to take my own needs seriously. I had lost myself… this course is a life-saver.”
— Family caregiver

“A clear commitment to helping people recognise and reclaim their strengths, towards preventing carer breakdown.”
— NHS Manager (Carer Services)

Current Work

New versions of this work offer a reflective, accessible space for people balancing care and work responsibilities.

The short sessions are grounded in a simple framework -
The Four Foundations and the Fifth Dimension -
which supports people to remain steady, compassionate, and clear, even under sustained pressure.

What I most hope people take away is simple:

“I can do this in a gentler, more sustainable way.”

If you’re supporting staff or communities with caring responsibilities, I’d be happy to explore how this work could be adapted for your setting.