Making caring visible, verified and recognised
In partnership with Blue Sky Carers Support, the unpaid carer support service for Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire, eligible unpaid carers applying for a carers grant can receive a Blue Sky Social Care Card free of charge.
The initiative provides carers with a verified form of recognition for their caring role, alongside access to discounts, offers and other benefits through the Blue Sky Social Care Card network.
Who can receive a free card?
The free card is not automatically available to every unpaid carer in Bedfordshire.
It is offered to carers who apply through the carers grant process and can provide sufficient evidence of their caring role. The outcome of their grant application does not determine whether they receive the card.
This means a carer can receive the card even if their grant application is unsuccessful, provided their caring role has been successfully verified.
Why verification matters
The Blue Sky Social Care Card is based on evidence of a genuine unpaid caring role, rather than self-declaration alone.
Applicants can provide evidence from relevant professionals and organisations, including local authorities, health services and carers organisations. Evidence is reviewed as part of the verification process, with unclear or insufficient evidence referred for further consideration.
The card confirms a verified unpaid caring role. It does not confirm medical conditions, benefit entitlement or eligibility for statutory support.
Recognition without an arbitrary hours threshold
Caring does not happen on a stopwatch.
Some carers provide extensive hands-on care, while others manage appointments, medication, finances, services or provide ongoing emotional support.
Our approach focuses on whether someone has a genuine, ongoing unpaid caring role, rather than requiring an arbitrary minimum number of hours.
Supporting carers facing financial pressure
Research commissioned by Carers UK found that 1.2 million unpaid carers in the UK are living in poverty, including 400,000 in deep poverty. The poverty rate among unpaid carers was 27%, compared with 18% among people who do not provide unpaid care.
Providing the card free of charge removes the cost of obtaining verified recognition for eligible carers and gives them access to discounts and other practical benefits.
Recognising the contribution of unpaid carers
Through this partnership, Blue Sky Carers Support and Blue Sky Social Care Card are helping make unpaid caring more visible and providing carers with a practical way to demonstrate their caring role.
We see you. We recognise your caring role. And your contribution matters.