Carers centre to close after nearly three decades

The carers centre operates from Sandford House in Swindon

Bosses at a centre that helps 5,700 unpaid carers have said they are "devastated" it will have to close after 27 years operating.

Swindon Carers Centre (SCC) will close at the end of this year, after pulling out of negotiations for a new contract with Swindon Borough Council and the county's integrated care board (ICB).

The charity said its auditors did not see a new contract as financially viable, but the leader of the council, Jim Robbins, said he was "still hopeful" it can find a way to work with the centre in future.

The council and ICB have said they will continue to support carers in Swindon.

Carer Ian Dallow's wife was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2016, and he sees Swindon Carers Centre as a vital resource that helps people in his situation know they are not alone.

He told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "We've had people who are there in tears because they're really struggling with their current situation, and someone will chip in and say they've had a similar experience.

"You start to think after (visiting the centre), even if you don't talk or comment, that situation does apply to me too."

"There have been comments this year about funding (the centre), but there was nothing at all (to say) that it was going to close."

'Expecting too much'

After withdrawing from the tendering process, Swindon Borough Council asked SCC to continue with an interim provision of services for a further 12 months, but SCC said it was concerned the funding was below the minimum amount needed to run the services properly.

The council and ICB said they were disappointed the offer was not taken as it was "the same annual value as their existing one, with reduced responsibilities".

SCC pointed out it had seen a 12% rise in demand for its services in 2023-2024.

Swindon Borough Council leader, Jim Robbins, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "We were still hoping to work with Carers Centre; we'd still like to."

"And I think there's still a way forward we can find a solution to this situation that works for us, for the carers centre, and most importantly, works for the carers and the people they're looking after."

Responding to this, Hannah Crawley, Chair of Trustees at Swindon Carers Centre, said she was unsure how Cllr Robbins and the council had come to this conclusion.

"We did make clear the minimum provisions we would need to be able to take on an interim contract, or continue the contract we're on already," she said.

"After two days of discussions they were unable to come back with anything that met those provisions.

"So I think, given how clear we've made our stance on that, I'm surprised they think there might still be wiggle room."

She added: "We have serious concerns about the lack of clarity now over how carers will be supported from January 2025.”

Voluntary Action Swindon has been working with SCC and said it has seen a "trend" in commissioners expecting "far too much from voluntary sector organisation" for the money offered, with the "expectation that charitable funds will fill the gap".

Swindon Borough Council said it has to undergo competitive commissioning

SCC is a member of the nationally-run Carers Trust - a charity that operates a network of over 130 local carer-support organisations.

Chief Executive of Carers Trust, Kirsty McHugh, said: “Sadly, the situation in Swindon is symptomatic of a wider issue across the UK where both unpaid carers, and the organisations supporting them, are under-valued and under-funded.

"Unpaid carers are propping up our creaking health and social care systems and it’s organisations like Swindon Carers Centre that ensure carers are supported."

SCC explained that it has been finding income from other areas, in the last two years getting more than £370,000 in grants from 18 trusts and foundations.

Swindon Borough Council and the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board said it is its priority to ensure "continuity of support for carers across Swindon who play such a vital and valued role".

"We will work closely with the Carers Centre until December to ensure this," their statement added.