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Adult Carers Survey

Unpaid Carers Annual Survey - Adult Carer

Are you an unpaid carer in Reading? Your voice matters!

A carer is anyone, including a child or an adult who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid (Source: NHS England).

We’ve launched a new survey designed to hear directly from adult carers like you! This is your chance to share your experiences, challenges, and needs, helping shape the services and support that truly reflect your reality. Take part and help make a difference in the lives of carers across Reading.

The survey will take around 15 - 20 minutes to complete.

The 2023 survey played a pivotal role in developing the Joint All-Age Carers Strategy and Action Plan. This year, the action plan is being brought to life, so your responses will help guide real improvements to the services you rely on.

Your responses will also inform the new Adult Social Care Strategy, ensuring carers' voices are reflected across all of our services.

Share your experiences and help us build a better future for all carers in Reading.

The Survey will be open for 4 weeks, closing on 07/07/2025.

For any questions or queries related to unpaid carers please email carers@reading.gov.uk

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61 participants

Phases

Phases overview
Survey
Analysing
Results and outcomes

Results and outcomes

11 August 2025 - No end date

The results of the Adult Carers Survey are now in. We would first like to take the opportunity to share the findings with our key stakeholders, especially those who co-produced the survey including Reading Borough Council colleagues, Brighter Futures for Children colleagues, voluntary sector organisations, health professionals, and carers themselves. This will be done at the upcoming Carers Steering Group meeting on 3rd September.

The findings will also be presented to senior colleagues in Adult Social Care and the lead councillor within the week following the steering group meeting.

Following these presentations, we will agree on an action plan to address key findings. This plan will be shared alongside the full survey results to ensure key figures have the opportunity to review and respond to the findings, recognising issues and developing a realistic and attainable plan.

Below are findings relating to demographics and carer specific responsibilities. Further findings will be published alongside the action plan after they have been presented at the key stakeholder meetings.

Short Summary Report: Adult Carers Survey 2025

The results of the Adult Carers Survey are now in. We would like to first take the opportunity to share the findings with our key stakeholders, especially those who co-produced the survey including Reading Borough Council colleagues, Brighter Futures for Children colleagues, voluntary sector organisations, health professionals, and carers themselves. This will be done at the upcoming Carers Steering Group meeting on 3rd September.

The findings will also be presented to senior colleagues in Adult Social Care and the lead councillor within the week following the steering group meeting.

Following these presentations, we will agree on an action plan to address findings. This plan will be shared alongside the survey results to ensure key figures have the opportunity to review and respond to the findings, recognising key issues and developing a realistic and attainable plan.

Below are findings relating to demographics and carer specific responsibilities. Further findings will be published alongside the action plan after they have been presented at the key stakeholder meetings.

Participants timeline

Total participants

61

Participation rate

28%

ParticipantsJunJulAug015304560

Please select all that apply. I am:

A carer, parent or family carer supporting an adult aged 18+

54.1% (33 choices)

A carer, parent or family carer supporting a child/young person under 18 years

29.5% (18 choices)

A working carer (employed full or part time outside of caring responsibilities)

18% (11 choices)

A sandwich carer (someone who cares for both sick, disabled or older relatives and dependent children)

13.1% (8 choices)

A former carer in the last year (formerly provided carer but stopped in the last year)

1.6% (1 choice)

Other

0% (0 choices)

How many people do you/did you care for?

1

57.4% (35 choices)

2

27.9% (17 choices)

3+

14.8% (9 choices)

Please tell us the circumstances of the person/people you support:

Autism/Neurodiversity

59% (36 choices)

Learning Disability

41% (25 choices)

Mental Health conditions

24.6% (15 choices)

Physical disability

21.3% (13 choices)

Old age/frailty

16.4% (10 choices)

Long term illness

13.1% (8 choices)

Dementia

13.1% (8 choices)

Sight and/or hearing loss

9.8% (6 choices)

Terminal illness

4.9% (3 choices)

Alcohol and/or drug dependency

0% (0 choices)

Other

9.8% (6 choices)

How long have you been caring for someone (or if a former carer, how long did you provide care for?)

More than 5 years

77% (47 choices)

3-5 years

16.4% (10 choices)

1-2 years

4.9% (3 choices)

6-12 months

1.6% (1 choice)

Approximately how much time do you spend caring per week?

50+ hours

59% (36 choices)

35-50 hours

24.6% (15 choices)

11-34 hours

9.8% (6 choices)

Not sure

1.6% (1 choice)

0-10 hours

0% (0 choices)

It depends due to:

4.9% (3 choices)

How did you first know that you were a carer?

Self-identified

52.5% (32 choices)

Charity/ community support advised

13.1% (8 choices)

GP/Doctor advised

11.5% (7 choices)

Friend or family told me

9.8% (6 choices)

Education/school advised

4.9% (3 choices)

Social services advised

1.6% (1 choice)

Other

6.6% (4 choices)

Which ward do you live in?

Tilehurst

14.8% (9 choices)

Caversham

9.8% (6 choices)

Park

9.8% (6 choices)

Caversham Heights

8.2% (5 choices)

No answer

6.6% (4 choices)

Whitley

6.6% (4 choices)

Southcote

6.6% (4 choices)

Redlands

4.9% (3 choices)

Norcot

4.9% (3 choices)

Emmer Green

4.9% (3 choices)

Coley

4.9% (3 choices)

Battle

4.9% (3 choices)

Kentwood

3.3% (2 choices)

Katesgrove

3.3% (2 choices)

Prefer not to say

3.3% (2 choices)

Church

1.6% (1 choice)

Don’t know

1.6% (1 choice)

Thames

0% (0 choices)

Abbey

0% (0 choices)

What is your age?

45-54

37.7% (23 choices)

55-64

24.6% (15 choices)

35-44

11.5% (7 choices)

65-74

9.8% (6 choices)

75+

6.6% (4 choices)

No answer

6.6% (4 choices)

25-34

3.3% (2 choices)

18-24

0% (0 choices)

Prefer not to say

0% (0 choices)

What is your sex?

Female

78.7% (48 choices)

Male

11.5% (7 choices)

No answer

9.8% (6 choices)

Prefer not to say

0% (0 choices)

Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?

Yes

83.6% (51 choices)

No answer

14.8% (9 choices)

Prefer not to say

1.6% (1 choice)

No

0% (0 choices)

What is your ethnic group?

White

77% (47 choices)

No answer

16.4% (10 choices)

Mixed or multiple ethnic groups

3.3% (2 choices)

Other ethnic group

1.6% (1 choice)

Prefer not to say

1.6% (1 choice)

Asian or Asian British

0% (0 choices)

Black, Black British, Caribbean or African

0% (0 choices)

Do you have a disability?

No

57.4% (35 choices)

Yes

18% (11 choices)

No answer

14.8% (9 choices)

Prefer not to say

9.8% (6 choices)

The full set of findings will be published with the action plan following the stakeholder meetings in early September.