In May 2024, a key discrepancy was identified in Census data between the number of registered unpaid carers and the actual total number of unpaid carers. The key objective of this project was to identify these people and increase awareness of carers support information. 
NHS Gloucestershire ICB worked with the Stroud & Berkeley Vale Integrated Locality Partnership, two Primary Care Networks (Severn Health and Berkeley Vale), GP Practices in the locality and the Carers Hub to deliver this project.
Primary Care data in SystmOne was used to identify patients under General Practices across Stroud & Berkeley Vale.
General Practices in Stroud & Berkeley Vale sent texts to all their patients with information on carers support. They offered, through the ILP and Stroud District Council, additional strength and balance activity in accessible locations outside of normal hours to accommodate carers and the cared for. If someone responded yes to the text message, this information was stored. 
There was a strong increase in awareness of carers support and where this can be accessed. New strength and balance classes were held outside normal hours. Bespoke offers for carers and the cared for encouraged carers to take part in activities, keeping them active and promoting overall health and wellbeing. A wider support offer was also initiated, including cost of living support, with community hub/foot network and pantries keen to support.
Carers, the carers hub and subgroups have been involved in designing the process and feedback from this cohort is being fedback through evaluation and the Carers Hub directly. In total, over 1000 new carers have been identified across Stroud & Berkeley Vale practices over an 18-month period because of this project. Positive feedback has been received from carers via the Carers Hub of how grateful they were to be contacted and thought of proactively. There has been an increase in use and awareness of Carers Hub support offers and other support available at a county level.
Data cleansing and reidentification of carers across practices in the Stroud & Berkeley Vale area will now take place as a result of agreement upon new coding to identify carers. There has been a key increase long term in use and overall awareness of Carers Hub support offers.