Carer Connect launches during Carers Week to support thousands of unpaid carers across Barnsley and South Yorkshire

A new, easy to use support service for unpaid carers has launched this Carers Week. Carer Connect is a free, accessible tool, providing advice, support and information around the clock to thousands of unpaid carers across Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Sheffield.

Across South Yorkshire, an estimated 140,000 people provide unpaid care to a family member or friend, with many not recognising themselves as carers and not being known to local authority services.

Research has consistently shown that carers experience higher rates of poor health, financial hardship, and social isolation than the general population.

Launching during Carers Week (Monday 8 June to Sunday 14 June 2026), Carer Connect aims to help more people recognise their unpaid carer role and access support they are entitled to.

It is designed to reach both those who have never accessed support before, as well as those already known to local authority services who are balancing caring responsibilities with work and family life.

Developed by the four South Yorkshire local authorities, Carer Connect brings together trusted information, guidance and support in one place.

Shaped in partnership with local carer communities and designed with carers in mind, the tool is free to use, requires no referral, and is built to fit around the busy and often unpredictable lives of carers.

Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through WhatsApp, the digital assistants can answer questions and provide clear advice on local services, financial support, carers’ legal rights, and ways to look after personal health and wellbeing. The tool is fully accessible, and questions can be asked and answered in any language.

Cllr Stan Bryan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Adult Social Care and Integrated Health, said:

“Unpaid carers are often the invisible backbone of our health and care system, and it’s vital that we do more to support them. Carer Connect is about making sure no one in Barnsley has to face that role alone, with support available at any time, not just during office hours. By helping people access the right information at the right time, we can make it easier to tackle challenges early on and ensure carers have the tools and support they need to look after themselves, their families, and the person they care for.”

Carer Connect is available to anyone caring for a family member or friend in Barnsley and across South Yorkshire. More information can be found on the Carers Connect website.

GPs, social workers, hospital discharge teams, and community organisations across South Yorkshire are also being encouraged to signpost carers to the tool as part of their routine practice.