In his 40s and working full time, Matthew’s life changed overnight when his partner had a stroke and suddenly needed full-time care. Now balancing a demanding job with a demanding caring role, Matthew found himself taking on everything—from personal care and medication to night-time support, shopping, cleaning, and helping his partner stay connected to the outside world.
Understandably, it all started to take a toll. Matthew was feeling mentally and physically exhausted, and the strain of juggling work and caring responsibilities was beginning to affect his health. He spoke with his GP about feeling low and was open to getting support.
A plan to make life more manageable
Matthew was referred to Action for Family Carers by Essex County Council, and one of our Carer Support Workers gave him a call. Together, they had an honest chat about how he was coping. Using the Carers Star tool, they worked together to identify three key goals to help Matthew feel better equipped to continue caring:
- Reducing his working hours to part-time
- Taking a short break for himself
- Accessing counselling to support his mental health
Through his ECC assessment, Matthew and his partner were also supported in applying for the benefits they were entitled to, giving them more financial breathing space. With this support in place, Matthew made the decision to cut back his hours over the summer—freeing up time for his well-being and his caring role.
And thanks to a Time4You wellbeing grant, Matthew was able to take a much-needed weekend away to Norfolk. With an interest in trains, he chose to visit the North Norfolk Railway, enjoying a chance to unwind and do something just for himself.
Matthew told us:
“At the time of this trip I was working full time in retail and caring for my partner, which was taking a toll mentally and physically. So, I decided to use my Time4You grant on a trip away for a bit of time to myself. I had a family member look after my partner, so this was possible… If you have even the smallest interest in trains or just fancy a different day out, I’d definitely recommend a trip to the North Norfolk Railway.”
“I had a very nice time where I was able to switch off. I’d like to return with my partner one day. Thank you once again to Action for Family Carers for making this possible.”
👉 Whether you’re just starting a caring role or have been doing it for years, we’re here to help you find space to breathe. Reach out to us today – you don’t have to do this alone.
