Carents® have been successful in its bid to be part of IMPACT (Improving Adult Care Together), the UK Centre for Implementing Evidence in Adult Social Care, 2025/2026 cohort – a programme which works to improve adult social care in the UK.
IMPACT is a £15 million UK centre for implementing evidence to improve adult social care, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Health Foundation. Carents® is one of 22 successful projects, that will focus on improving care services for older adults living with frailty, that will take part in the 12 month programme.
Dr Jackie Gray, Founder of Carents® said; “Unpaid carers provide essential support for older people, reducing pressure on health and social care systems. Despite their critical role, they face significant challenges relating to the ageing care trajectory, familial relationships, sandwich and distance care, healthy ageing, employment, loneliness, and isolation.
“This project harnesses the voices of seldom heard “carents” – adults providing unpaid care for their ageing friends and relatives – so that commissioners and decision makers can find better ways to protect and improve support for them and the elderly people they care for.”
Jon Glasby, IMPACT’s Director, said, “Adult social care is under a lot of pressure at the moment – but we’ve been really inspired by all the different applications we received from so many different people, all doing amazing things, all over the country. There’s so much innovation, hard work and creativity – and the list of new projects is just the tip of the iceberg. These 22 new projects will make a huge difference to local services and to people’s lives, and we’re proud that IMPACT can help partners take forward their ideas and get evidence-informed changes implemented in the realities of local practice.”
Dr Jackie Gray continued; “We are excited to work with IMPACT to give carents a national voice which can shape future policies and strategic commissioning. Our highly engaged community of carents feel invisible to the ‘system’ and want services that meet their needs and those of the older people they care for.
“We are determined to change this so that everyone gets the level of help they need to stay safe and well. The IMPACT project will be crucial in helping us achieve this vision.”
The project with IMPACT will commence in September and run for 12 months.
