Carers stories

Caring with Pride: Elsie’s Story

This Pride Month, we’re shining a light on the powerful, everyday acts of care within the LGBTQ+ community. Elsie is an autistic carer from Bristol who supports her disabled partner while navigating university, identity, and the challenges of a system that often falls short. Her story is a heartfelt reminder of how love and care can be acts of quiet resistance.

The Realities of Caring for Someone with Severe Mental Health Challenges: Kaz’s story

For Mental Health Week, we’re highlighting the quiet dedication of those caring for loved ones with complex mental health needs. In this interview, Kaz shares her journey supporting her partner through mental illness—revealing the struggles, emotional impact, and moments of strength that have shaped their path.

Lisa and Hollie's Story: A Family Like No Other

In a joyful, bustling home, Hollie supports her autistic brother with incredible empathy and strength. Recognised as a young carer since age seven, Hollie balances advocacy, love, and protection daily. Discover how she and her mum Lisa navigate challenges with humour, heart—and unstoppable determination.

Daisy’s Light: A Young Adult Carer’s Strength and Vision

A simple question at school—"Is there someone in your house with a disability?"—could have helped identify Daisy as a young carer before she hit crisis point. Now supported, Daisy balances caring for her mum with top GCSEs, dreams of Oxford, and a love of Greek myths. Her story highlights the strength of young carers and the need to spot them early.

Neil’s Story - from carer to volunteer befriender.

When Neil was caring for his late mother, life was a constant balancing act. Isolated and overwhelmed, he turned to Carers Support for someone to talk to. What began as a need for support grew into something much more – a chance to give back. Now a volunteer Befriender, Neil shares how a simple weekly phone call can change lives, including his own.

Chipping Sodbury Independent Walk and Talk Group: Building Connections and Community

For Carers Active April, we caught up with one of our Walk and Talk groups, who strode forward on their own to share a story of resilience, friendship, and the transformative power of walking together.

Caring and neurodiversity: Andy's story

"She said she’d get me tested for the others. And I came back with ADHD and Aspergers, and she said, ‘Well, how does that make you feel?’ I said, "Well, that gives me answers to how I've been all my life. I always felt like something was different about me, and now I could prove it."

Dahlia's caring story

Carer and women’s rights advocate Dahlia reflects on the emotional, financial, and systemic challenges of caregiving—and the urgent need for better support for women carers.

Louise's story as an adoptive black carer

Carer, filmmaker, and TEDx speaker Louise Ndibwirende shares her powerful journey of caring for her brother, the impact on her identity, and the support that helped her through—including the strength she found in community.

BBC Radio Bristol’s ‘Carer Award’ winner – Carina Andrews

"We use art as a tool to create social change, as it is an incredibly powerful way not only to be heard but also to personally process your journey and decide what you wish to share."

David’s Story: Caring, Coping, and Finding Strength

David had been referred to both the counselling and befriending services for support as he had become very isolated in his caring role and was struggling to manage his partner's extreme emotions and anxiety.

A Hospital Carer Liaison Worker’s story

Mrs G was referred via a call to CarersLine, in which she explained that her mother, who has a diagnosis of dementia, was in Bristol Royal Infirmary, having been admitted with suspected pneumonia.

Ray and Irene's story

After two years of doctors’ appointments and deteriorating health Irene was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It was then that Ray found out about Carers Support Centre from his GP.

Pat and Georgia

"Carers Support has been absolutely amazing. They helped me get my life back together. I was on my own, I was just struggling to cope on a day-to-day basis and couldn’t go out to work.  They've been a lifesaver for me."

Cynthia's story

Cynthia cares for her daughter, Sumicka, who has Down's Syndrome