From what I’m seeing, there’s a strong focus on outcomes and impact — not just what you’ll deliver, but the difference it will make and how you’ll evidence it.

There’s also a big emphasis on reaching the “right” people, especially hidden or underserved carers, and showing how you’ll reduce barriers to access.

Partnership working keeps com…[Read more]

From what’s working in practice, the biggest shift is moving away from waiting for carers to self-identify and instead being proactive. A lot of carers don’t recognise themselves as carers — some take years to realise — so relying on them to come forward just doesn’t work.

Consistently asking the right questions is making a real differenc…[Read more]

From what I’m seeing, there’s a strong focus on measurable outcomes and value for money, but also more emphasis on early intervention and prevention. There seems to be growing interest in how services identify and reach hidden carers, not just those already known.
Partnership working also feels key — showing how you connect with health, educa…[Read more]

Young carers and mobile phone bans in schools really highlights how one-size policies can miss real life situations.

For some students, a phone is just a distraction. But for young carers, it can be a way to check in, stay reassured, and be reachable if something happens at home.

Taking that away completely doesn’t just remove a distraction —…[Read more]

Young carers and mobile phone bans in schools is a really complex one.

On one hand, I understand why schools want fewer distractions and clearer rules. But for young carers, a phone often isn’t about social use — it’s about staying connected to home and being able to respond if something isn’t right.

A blanket ban risks overlooking that reality…[Read more]

Also, it’s the uncertainty. You can spend weeks pulling together a strong bid, but it’s never fully clear what will land — priorities can shift, criteria can feel open to interpretation, and feedback isn’t always detailed enough to learn from.
There’s also a disconnect at times between what’s asked for on paper and what’s actually needed on the…[Read more]

For me, it’s the level of detail expected with very limited time. You’re trying to evidence everything — impact, partnerships, delivery models — while still running day-to-day services.
It can feel like you’re being asked to produce something incredibly comprehensive without the capacity to step back and do it properly.

Interested to hear how…[Read more]