Innovative outreach connects ‘hidden’ carers in Cornwall to carefree breaks

Highlights   

• In Cornwall, national charity Carefree’s innovative combination of social media, peer campaigns, and carer outreach has led to a fourfold increase in unpaid carers seeking out, or being referred for, short hotel stays and time away.  

• 87% of unpaid carers reported having a better ability to cope as a result of a ‘carefree’ break. 

• A new evaluation by Health Innovation South West indicates the potential of targeted investment and outreach in engaging carers with respite in a rural and coastal region.  

Digital and community-based outreach in Cornwall has connected unsupported carers across the county to short breaks that are boosting their resilience and wellbeing, reports a new evaluation by Health Innovation South West.  

A combination of targeted social media adverts, refer-a-friend campaigns, and collaboration with the Cornwall Carer Service, led by national charity Carefree, has led to a fourfold increase in unpaid carers in Cornwall referring themselves or being referred for time away from their loved ones.  

These ‘carefree’ breaks, in the form of short hotel stays and time away, improved carers’ ability to cope and left them socially connected – highlighting the effectiveness of innovative digital and community-based solutions in reaching and supporting unpaid carers. 

Across the UK, Carefree makes use of excess hotel availability to provide vital low-cost respite for unpaid carers. In Cornwall, Carefree has been implemented as part of a wider initiative to improve support for carers and reduce their risk of burnout.  

With funding from the Department of Health and Social Care’s Accelerating Reform Fund, Carefree expanded its outreach in Cornwall over a 12-month period. The innovative combination of social media, peer campaigns and service collaboration proved effective; more than 250 unpaid carers were referred over the year using an online portal or via Carefree. More than a third of these referrals were self-referrals by carers not already known to the carers service. Over 90 carefree breaks were taken and carers were referred to further support services.   

Carefree breaks enabled unpaid carers to rest, recharge, and feel more capable of sustaining their caring role. 87% reported having a better ability to cope and 85% said they felt more socially connected. Reflected one carer: “…it was such a rest, mentally, emotionally, as well as physically”. 

Miruna Harpa, Carefree’s Director of Delivery, said:

The results in Cornwall demonstrate that when we combine digital outreach with trusted local partnerships, we can reach unpaid carers who were previously hidden from support.

Many of those accessing breaks were not already connected to services, showing how important proactive engagement is. These breaks make a tangible difference to carers’ resilience and wellbeing, helping them rest, reconnect and feel more able to sustain their caring role.”  

Our evaluation highlights the impact and potential of targeted investment and outreach in increasing awareness and engagement with carer respite in a rural and coastal region.

We set out recommendations for sustaining the service in Cornwall, including ensuring ongoing funding is used to support regional marketing campaigns, and increasing the number of hotels offering carefree breaks within Cornwall and in Devon to ensure availability close to home for carers across the peninsula. Providing greater financial support to cover expenses and offering help with arranging respite care for the person they care for can also encourage carers to take time away to focus on themselves. Find out how a model supporting carers and their cared-for, at the same time, is happening elsewhere in Cornwall. 

The Accelerating Reform Fund (ARF) was launched by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2024 to scale up impactful community-based innovations in adult social care. Health Innovation South West has been evaluating the value and impact of ARF-funded projects in Cornwall to build evidence on what works for unpaid carers, people receiving care, and local systems. 

Read our evaluation of the ARF in Cornwall in full. 

Looking for evaluation support and insights? 

At Health Innovation South West, our evaluation and learning experts are working with partners on the ground to measure impact, testing innovations in real-world settings to provide actionable insights to enable service and innovation change.

If you have an evaluation project in mind or you’d like bespoke training, contact us.