Today marks the start of Carers Week (8–14 June 2026), with Cumberland Council kicking off the week by launching its new Carers Charter and thanking members of the Cumberland Carers Forum for their collaboration in co-producing the document, which places unpaid carers at the heart of care and support.
The Charter sets out how the Council will value carers by recognising, listening to, and supporting them throughout their caring journey. It reflects a clear ambition to ensure unpaid carers are treated as essential partners in care, whose voices and experiences help shape how services are designed and delivered.
Built around the principles of Recognise, Learn, and Collaborate, the Charter strengthens a culture of working together with carers, families, and partner organisations to achieve better outcomes for all.
The Charter has been co-produced with carers and is designed to evolve over time, shaped by ongoing feedback and lived experience. It will sit at the heart of how the Council works, ensuring that engagement with carers is an ongoing partnership that influences continuous improvement.
The new Carers Charter has been published on the Council’s website.
Today, Cllr Lisa Hinton met representatives of the Cumberland Carer’s Forum to thank them for their key role in co-producing the Charter and ensuring carers’ voices were central throughout its development.
Cllr Lisa Hinton, Cumberland Council Executive Member for Adult Social Care, said;
“Unpaid carers are essential partners in care, and this Charter is about recognising that in a meaningful and lasting way. We value carers, we listen to them, and we are committed to making sure their experiences directly shape how we deliver services.
“This is about more than recognising the role carers play; it is about learning from them and using their insight to improve practice, strengthen support, and ensure consistency across our services.
“I also want to thank the Cumberland Carers Forum for their invaluable contribution in co-producing this charter. Their lived experience and honest feedback have been essential in shaping something that truly reflects what matters.”