A message from Vicky

My name is Vicky and I have had the privilege of serving as Director of Carers Matter Norfolk for the past five years.

Date posted 29 June 2026

During that time, we have overseen significant changes and developments to the service. Have we always got everything right? No.

Like any organisation committed to supporting people, we have learned, adapted and grown along the way. What I am proud of, however, is that together we have supported thousands of unpaid carers across Norfolk, helping them navigate some of the most challenging periods of their lives.

My connection to caring isn’t just professional. I am also a carer for my mum, so I understand first-hand how demanding, emotional, and sometimes lonely the role can be.

But if you ask anyone on our team, they will tell you that caring is only one part of who I am. I am also a mother, a friend, a bingo enthusiast, a bird lover, a keen gardener, a reader, an occasional artist, and, if I’m honest, quite good at complaining!

That is my ‘why’. Too often, people are placed into the box labelled ‘carer’ and everything else about them is overlooked. Yet every carer is so much more than the support they provide. You are individuals with interests, passions, talents, dreams and identities that deserve to be recognised and celebrated.

So this isn’t a message because caring has been in the headlines recently due to Carers Week and coverage by the BBC. It’s simply because I believe that, above all else, it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate you, not just for what you do for others, but for being you.