Supporting unpaid carers to be physically active in Lincolnshire

Background: A county-wide commitment to carers’ wellbeing

Lincolnshire, a large rural and coastal county in the East Midlands, is home to an estimated 70,000 unpaid carers – a number expected to rise due to the county’s ageing population. Recognising the significant role these individuals play in supporting health and care systems, organisations across Lincolnshire have united around a clear mission: to reduce health inequalities and support unpaid carers to become more physically active.

This case study shares how Lincolnshire has mobilised a cross-sector approach, embedded carers into local health strategies, and harnessed national campaigns like Carers Active to bring this vision to life.

Strategic foundations: unpaid carers as a priority group

Lincolnshire County Council’s Public Health Team has long recognised unpaid carers as a priority population for tackling health inequalities. With strong executive support from councillors and senior leaders, the council has:

• Co-produced carer strategies with unpaid carers themselves
• Allocated a dedicated carers' budget within public health
• Ensured carers are a named priority group in key commissioned services.

This strategic positioning has laid a firm foundation for more targeted, coordinated action across the system.

A partnership approach

One You Lincolnshire

Commissioned by the council, One You Lincolnshire provides healthy lifestyle support with a clear remit to serve unpaid carers. Through self-referral and referrals from Carers First, carers can access tailored health and wellbeing support. One You works closely with Active Lincolnshire to ensure physical activity opportunities are accessible and appropriate.

Carers First (Lincolnshire)

Delivering statutory carers' assessments and personal health budgets, Carers First plays a vital role in connecting carers to physical activity as part of wider wellbeing support.

Active Lincolnshire

As the county’s Active Partnership, Active Lincolnshire champions the needs of unpaid carers within the physical activity sector, connecting providers and advocating for inclusive practice.

Catalyst for change: the power of Carers Active

The national Carers Active campaign has provided a timely and unifying platform for Lincolnshire’s efforts. It has helped:

• Raise the visibility of carers’ physical activity needs
• Provide a shared language and framework for cross-sector working
• Drive focused local action through campaigns like Carers Active April.

“There’s an appetite for cross-sector partnership and greater cross-sector knowledge. Carers Active gives us the framing and the language to build those relationships.” – Local partner

Carers Active April

In both 2023 and 2024, Active Lincolnshire convened local partners to co-design Carers Active April campaigns. These planning sessions brought together physical activity providers, carer organisations, and health services to coordinate activities and share learning.

Key outcomes:

• New relationships formed between sectors
• A stronger understanding of unpaid carers’ needs
• A growing menu of activities, from health walks to online classes and local gym access
• Use of Active Lincolnshire’s ‘Activity Finder’ platform to highlight carer-friendly sessions year-round.

Lessons for other local areas and Active Partnerships

This work offers clear lessons for other local authorities and active partnerships:

Make carers visible in strategy: Positioning carers as a priority group and embedding their needs in service specifications sets the tone for action.

Secure senior-level support: Political and executive buy-in ensures continuity, investment, and accountability.

Facilitate partnerships: Use your influence as a commissioner or connector to bring organisations together, with regular forums and shared planning time.

Time-bound campaigns work: Initiatives like Carers Active April offer a rallying point – a defined moment to act, promote and engage carers and providers alike.

Create shared ownership: Genuine partnership working takes time. Establishing shared goals and joint planning spaces builds trust and long-term alignment.

Conclusion: a growing movement in Lincolnshire

Through a blend of strategic foresight, collaborative delivery, and national campaign alignment, Lincolnshire is demonstrating how local systems can work together to address the physical activity needs of unpaid carers.

By placing carers at the heart of public health strategy, fostering trust across sectors, and using tools like Carers Active to galvanise action, the county is building a more inclusive, healthier future – one step at a time.