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New Services for Carers and Older People Launched

28/01/2025

Better Together will have three main delivery areas.

Cheshire West and Chester Council are pleased to announce that the ‘Better Together for Carers and Older People’ service officially launched on the 13 January.  The service will be a single point of access in sharing relevant information, advice and support available to empower unpaid carers and adults to identify and achieve personal outcomes, improve quality of life through identification of strengths and to build their independence, resilience and supportive networks.

The previous carer commissioned service contract for Cheshire West Carer Support was delivered by Cheshire and Warrington Carer Trust, this ended on the 12 January 2024. Cheshire West and Chester Council and ICB have commissioned the Cheshire & Warrington Carer Trust who have partnered with OPAL and Snow Angels to deliver the new carer commissioned service, called Better Together for Carers and Older People.

The service aligns with Cheshire West and Chester Council’s vision of 'Enabling Great Lives', by improving the lives of unpaid carers and older people across Cheshire West and Chester.  The service aims to empower residents through community led support, sharing of vital information and advice and building strong support networks and partnerships.

Recognising the benefits of a community led service, through Better Together for Carers and Older People the Council will be working to extend the service to all adults across the borough.

Better Together will have three main delivery areas:
Community Led Support
All Age Carer Support
Hospital to Home support

For unpaid carers, the service offers information, advice, training and guidance on finances, carer rights, caring related roles and responsibilities. Better Together offers 1:1, peer group support and will facilitate social groups and events all designed to reduce social isolation, promote carers health and wellbeing, alleviate the pressures of the caring role and increase the identification of carers across the borough.

Better Together will assist Cheshire West and Chester Adult Social Care Teams with the completion of carer assessments and will also actively support carers to take regular carer breaks through funding pots such as the Care Well Fund, which contributes towards the cost of recreational activities to assist unpaid carers to take regular carer breaks and to maintain their own wellbeing.

OPAL and Better Together will deliver community led support for older people by informing and connecting Cheshire West and Chester residents to community resources & services OPAL will focus on supporting people in local rural communities to enhance community engagement and wellbeing.

The Hospital to Home service delivered by Snow Angels will support with hospital discharge and aim to prevent delayed discharges by helping adults return safely back to their homes with the necessary support. With up to six weeks support available, adults discharged from hospital will be supported to build their strengths and personal and community networks to improve independence and reduce the risk of readmission into hospital.

Better Together will be holding a formal launch event that will take place on 29 January, 1-3pm at Brio Leisure Centre, Northwich, CW9 5QJ


The Council would also like to share the Launch of Mobilise – A free online support service for unpaid carers

Through the Accelerated Reform Fund, Cheshire West and Chester Council, alongside eight other Local Authorities across Cheshire and Merseyside, have commissioned Mobilise to deliver an unpaid carer digital support platform.

  • Mobilise offers free online support services specifically designed for unpaid carers. When accessing Mobilise, unpaid carers can expect personalised and flexible support through one-to-one coaching calls and 24/7 support through AI support Mobilise AI supported Assistant tool, access to their digital library of resources and practical guides and joining online peer support groups.
  • Mobilise has a focus on increasing the identification of carers through targeted ads and increasing unpaid carers engagement through digital support. The digital support offered by mobilise includes email courses for carers, financial toolkit, emergency planning for carers, blue badge check tool and the ability to connect with carers through Mobilise hub or online social group “online cuppa”.
  • Mobilise assistant can help answer carers questions relating to the caring role such as finding help with cost of caring, cared for care and support needs, hospital discharges or respite.
  • Mobilise assistant can signpost carers to access local services across Cheshire West and Chester such as our carer commissioned service, Cheshire and Warrington Carer Trust and other local community organisations depending on the carers need and wanted outcome.  

For more information, please visit:

For further information contact: Tori Shaw, Community & Prevention Commissioning Lead, Strategic Commissioning and Market Management Team