Unpaid carers are the backbone of our communities, giving tirelessly without expecting anything in return. But who cares for the carers? That's where Carefree steps in, leveraging donated hotel rooms to offer vital 1–2 night breaks.
Since 2022, we've had a fantastic partnership with Carers Oxfordshire, an organisation dedicated to ensuring carers across their county get the support they truly need. They've made our breaks a core part of their offering, and the results have been transformative!
So, how exactly has this partnership blossomed, and what difference has it made on the ground? Let's dive in and hear directly from Carers Oxfordshire about the ease, impact, and "game-changing" benefits of using the Carefree platform.
Who are Carers Oxfordshire?
Carers Oxfordshire are a free service that offers information, advice, and personalised support to unpaid adult carers—those aged 18 or over who look after someone living in Oxfordshire.
Since the beginning of our partnership together, Carers Oxfordshire have referred over 900 carers to us– the value of all the breaks taken totalling over £150,000!
Why did they partner with Carefree?
"Great service, helpful, clear guidance and an amazing offer for unpaid carers - genius." - Michelle Evans, Carers Oxfordshire
Every member of the Carers Oxfordshire team is aware of Carefree so if a carer meets the eligibility criteria during an assessment, they will have the opportunity to be referred for a break.
For Matt, the designated breaks coordinator for Carers Oxfordshire, the platform's ease of use is a major win. Matt notes, "It saved me so much time thanks to the videos and the FAQs," and what "used to be such an admin-heavy job is now much easier,” as the number of breaks taken can be directly downloaded.
The benefits for the carers themselves are profound. Because Carers Oxfordshire purchases Carefree credits, they are often able to waive the booking fee, a crucial lifeline since “the cost of living is high for many right now and not paying the booking fee is a real bonus for a lot of our carers." He also notes that since the partnership has gone on for many years, most of the promotion is now done by world of mouth as carers have been very very pleased with their breaks.
Matt was proud to share that "we’ve had carers who hadn’t been able to take a break for 8 years now able to take a break through Carefree," calling the chance for even a couple of days away "game changing." These breaks are not just about rest; they're an opportunity for self-care. Some hotels also have spa facilities which the carers book to use. "They wouldn’t have the time to do that if it weren’t for Carefree."
Ultimately, the partnership has allowed Carers Oxfordshire to significantly expand its impact. The administrative ease of the platform means Matt can now "offer carers a much wider variety of breaks now than I did before."
And the carers referred certainly have a lot of positive things to say!
What do their referred carers have to say?
“Before I went away I felt like I was on the verge of a breakdown. The hotel was so lovely. I went to bed early and caught up on years of lost sleep. I really needed the break.” - Madeleine, an unpaid carer who stayed at the Double Tree
“Being away allowed me to relax and stop doing things all the time. I slept a lot and read a book, and even found a bit of time to start my festive shopping. The Telford hotel was good, really helpful staff, clean and quiet location, great food.”- Christine, an unpaid carers who stayed at the Telford Hotel, Spa
“Time away with my husband, who is also carer to our son, was really important. We immediately felt relaxed, and the staff were fantastic on site, so welcoming and friendly. The spa facilities were amazing!”- Samantha, an unpaid carer who stayed at the Winchester Hotel
