Falkirk Carers’ Voice: Empowering Caregivers to Share Their Stories

In February, I had the privilege of joining the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carer’s Voice group (Carers' Voice - Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre), thanks to a kind invitation from Jennifer, our Falkirk Health & Social Care Partnership operational lead. Carer’s Voice meetings offer a unique space for carers to connect with one another, as well as with local authorities and third-sector organisations. It’s a space where carers can meet, find support, and feel heard.

I was excited to join Jennifer in talking about Care Opinion—what we do and how we aim to give people a platform to share their experiences of health, care, and support services. What made the session even more special was hearing directly from local carers about the challenges they face and the dedication they show in caring for others.

Falkirk Health & Social Care Partnership really values the voices of carers in the area, and by being a part of this meeting, we hope to encourage more carers to speak up and share their experiences of health, care & support services.

One important takeaway from the meeting was a key reminder: that carers don’t just have their own stories to tell—they can also share the experiences of the person they care for. This broader perspective is so important in improving the support and services available to everyone. It’s by coming together and sharing these experiences that staff & services can work towards making real changes in the care and support they provide for both carers and the people they care for.

Carer feedback across Scotland

Over the last 12 months, 197 stories have been told about Scottish services by authors who identify themselves as a carer, with 4 of these leading to a planned change in practice.