We Care You Care (WCYC) is an initiative led by MVDA, funded through the Better Care Fund via Middlesbrough Council and Redcar and Cleveland Council. Our small, dedicated team (pictured left) includes Kelly Hodgson, Project Lead (left), and Melanie Kendall, Project Officer (right). We are both passionate about identifying and supporting unpaid carers, raising awareness about the vital role they play, and highlighting the range of local resources available to them.
WCYC is a coordinated campaign designed to reach both known and unknown carers across our communities. Our goal is to provide them with relevant, accessible information and support. This project complements the work of the South Tees Carers Forum and aligns with the development of the local carers strategy. Specifically, we aim to reach carers in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland, including Brotton, Guisborough, Greater Eston, Loftus, Saltburn, and Skelton.
Every day 6,000 people become carers and often do not have the opportunity to plan and prepare for this.
We understand that many of you may not identify as "carers." You are a son, daughter, parent, grandparent, or sibling looking after a loved one — something you do out of love and obligation. There may not have been a single moment when you consciously decided to become a carer; instead, it often happens gradually, as a loved one’s health declines with age or mental health challenges, or suddenly, due to illness or accident. In many cases, we’re left with little time to prepare for or adjust to these new responsibilities.
As a result, many carers aren’t sure where to turn for help and may only seek support when they’re already at a crisis point. This can be a frightening and isolating experience.
Carers are holding families together, enabling loved ones to get the most out of life, making an enormous contribution to society and saving the economy billions of pounds.
Being a carer can, of course, be hugely rewarding but it isn't always easy. Looking after loved ones can impact your own well-being. You may notice you have less time to do the things you enjoy and maintain friendships or you may notice you are starting to struggle at work or school with the extra home life pressure.
There is a fantastic range of organisations delivering services specifically for unpaid carers across the South Tees. They genuinely understand and want to help you whether it be with emotional or practical support. All member organisations in the South Tees Carers Forum work to make life better for local carers. We encourage Middlesbrough carers, Redcar Carers and Carers throughout Cleveland to connect to support should you need it.
This website has been developed to ensure you are able to access useful information and advice, find local organisations and groups to engage with, share experiences to support other carers and keep up to date with local and national news relevant to you when you need it.
WCYC has been created in response to some local carers’ experiences of finding themselves in a caring role and not knowing where to start. We hope you find the information provided helps you to understand the support available to you and how you can access it.
If you want to add information or raise a query with any of the content provided please get in touch by email: Hello@wecareyoucare.info
Check out our Facebook page and keep up to date with what is happening in the area to support carers.
Please help us to reach more carers and inform them about WCYC so they can have access to a wide range of useful information and resources as well as details of a range of services that can provide local support by displaying and sharing our communications tools:
