Race Equality Matters Week is a moment to listen and reflect. Across the UK, it encourages organisations, communities and individuals to consider how we build a society where everyone feels they belong, where people are seen, valued and supported equally. It is an annual global movement to spark and renew hope, inspire progress and takes place this year 2-8 February under the theme of #ChangeNeedsAllOfUs
For carers from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, the pressures of caring can be compounded by racism, social isolation and barriers to accessing mainstream services. That is why inclusion, fairness and accessibility sit at the heart of the Short Breaks Scheme - not just during Race Equality Week, but throughout the year.
The Short Breaks Scheme exists to ensure unpaid carers can access meaningful breaks in ways that work for them. This means recognising that one size does not fit all. Carers come from every background, culture and community, and the need for rest, connection and recognition cuts across all identities.
In Wales, 6% of carers identify as being part of an ethnic minority community (2021 Census). In the first six months of the Short Breaks Scheme in 2025/26, 13% of carers supported through it identified as coming from an ethnic minority background, reflecting the scheme’s focus on reaching carers who may otherwise be overlooked.
Barriers linked to race and ethnicity, including language, cultural expectations around caring, experiences of discrimination and lack of trust in statutory systems, can all affect whether carers feel able to seek support. If a programme is truly inclusive, it must actively address these barriers.
That’s why the Short Breaks Scheme works through a diverse network of trusted delivery providers across Wales. These organisations are rooted in their communities, understand local cultural contexts, and are well placed to respond to carers’ lived experiences.
Race Equality Week’s themes of representation, belonging, allyship and action closely align with this approach. Inclusion is not just about who a service is for, but who helps shape it, deliver it and champion it.
Below are three examples of what inclusive practice looks like in action in the Short Breaks Scheme.
Through the Short Breaks Scheme, Swansea Carers Centre demonstrates a deep understanding that caring responsibilities can look very different across cultures, and that support must be flexible, respectful and responsive.
Inclusivity is a clear focus of this work. Carers from minoritised ethnic communities have been supported to access activities they requested themselves, including a culturally significant group trip to Alum Rock in Birmingham. The trip enabled carers to shop for Ramadan and Eid, offering a stress‑free day away from their caring roles.
One carer shared, “Thank you for a wonderful day out. I can’t drive, so this trip was a rare treat.”
The scheme has also supported a Chinese New Year celebration for the Llansamlet dementia group, allowing carers to connect with their cultural heritage in a shared, supportive space. This reflects Race Equality Week’s emphasis on representation, ensuring carers see their identities and experiences reflected in the support they receive.
Race Equality First brings a vital race‑equality lens to the Short Breaks Scheme through its expertise in tackling discrimination and supporting people from minoritised ethnic communities.
Race Equality First has supported unpaid carers to access breaks that might otherwise feel out of reach - from trips away and community activities to simple opportunities to spend quality time with family and friends.
Demand for this support has been described as “phenomenal”, with carers expressing relief at being able to do something different or affordable for the first time. Group activities have been especially popular, reflecting cultural values around shared experiences and mutual support. As Race Equality First explain, spending time together as a community allows carers to “help each other with their caring responsibilities” while stepping away from daily pressures.
One carer captured the impact powerfully, describing their break as a chance to “recharge, rejuvenate and recalibrate” their caring role.
This work speaks directly to Race Equality Week’s focus on allyship and action, addressing inequality through practical, community‑led support.
Age Connects Torfaen demonstrates how inclusive practice can bridge cultures, generations and faith communities. Their pamper session for female Muslim carers shows how culturally informed design can transform a short break into something deeply meaningful.
The session was created with carers’ faith, privacy and comfort in mind, using halal‑friendly products, a private space and access to prayer facilities. For many participants, this was the first time they had ever experienced a pamper treatment. One carer shared that a head massage helped release stress she had “bottled up” through years of caring, leaving her in tears.
Through the Short Breaks Scheme, Age Connects Torfaen supports carers in ways that respect cultural expectations around ageing, family roles and community responsibility - helping ensure breaks are appropriate, dignified and enriching. This reflects Race Equality Week’s theme of belonging, showing that carers are more likely to engage when support reflects who they are.
Race Equality Week is a reminder that inclusion requires ongoing learning and listening. For the Short Breaks Scheme, it reinforces the importance of working in partnership with organisations that are trusted by their communities and committed to equality in practice, not just in principle.
As we mark Race Equality Week, the Short Breaks Scheme remains committed to:
Across Wales, our delivery providers continue to remove barriers, build trust and create space for rest and connection. Thank you to all those organisations helping ensure carers from all backgrounds feel seen, respected and supported.