This year, the theme for Carers Week is ‘Building Carer Friendly Communities’, which calls for better recognition and support for unpaid carers. In support of this, Cambridgeshire County Council is showcasing the ways in which digital innovation, community partnerships, and early identification are helping to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for carers. The council has developed an innovative AI-enabled digital support platform – Bridgit - which has helped thousands of unpaid carers across the county.
There are 5.8 million people in the UK caring for a family member, friend or neighbour who is ill, older, or disabled, with 52,236 of those in Cambridgeshire, (according to data from the 2021 Census). Caring responsibilities can impact on people’s health, finances, and employment opportunities.
Bridgit was developed in partnership with Caring Together Charity, which supports carers on behalf of the County Council. It provides a one-stop, 24/7, digital hub offering personalised advice on wellbeing, employment, finance, care options, and local support services. Since its launch in 2024, Bridgit has been accessed by more than 9,000 carers, generating over 13,000 personalised self-help plans.
Bridgit tailors its guidance to individual users, ensuring carers receive the right support, relevant to them. It also uses targeted social media outreach to help identify ‘hidden carers’ - people who don’t recognise themselves as carers and may not realise that support is available.
Work is now underway to develop Bridgit Gen 2, which offers a more interactive, real-time coaching experience that can be accessed via the web, mobile, and WhatsApp. This will allow carers to receive personalised guidance at any time of day, helping them navigate the challenges of caring alongside work, family life, and their own wellbeing. The updated platform will be available later this year.
The council is also refreshing its All-Age Carers Strategy (2026–2028) to reflect rising demand and the changing needs of carers. This work has been informed by extensive consultation, ensuring that carers’ voices, feedback, and what matters most to them are at the heart of the strategy.
The updated strategy will focus on earlier identification of carers through schools, health settings, and community networks, improved access to support through digital tools and commissioned providers, better support for young carers and parent carers, strengthened mental health and wellbeing support, and closer partnership working across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. As part of the strategy refresh process, more than 50 stakeholders will come together on 15 June to help shape the strategic priorities for the next two years
Councillor Graham Wilson, Chair of the Adults and Health committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said:
“Unpaid carers give so much of themselves to support others, and Carers Week is an important reminder of how vital it is that we support them in return.
“Bridgit is already making a real difference by helping carers find the right advice at the right time, and Bridgit Gen 2 will strengthen this even further with around‑the‑clock, interactive guidance. This innovation is a key part of our wider ambition to make Cambridgeshire a healthy, fair, and more sustainable place, ensuring every carer feels recognised, supported and valued.”
Unpaid carers in Cambridgeshire can access support at any time through Bridgit - more information on this and the other support available for carers can be found on the council’s website: Looking after someone - support for carers | Cambridgeshire County Council
