Crossroads Care Surrey honours support for 274 unpaid carers after local authority pulls funding.
Crossroads Care Surrey has stepped in to safeguard the wellbeing of 274 unpaid carers after Surrey County Council reversed its commitment to honour their entitled respite breaks.
The charity has been delivering Government funded respite breaks for unpaid carers across the county for the last 14 years. In February 2025 Surrey County Council unexpectedly served Crossroads Care Surrey 6 months’ notice on the current contract that should not have ended until March 2027. Meaning that from 4 August 2025 Crossroads Care Surrey would no longer be providing unpaid carers with funded respite breaks.
Carers who joined the service in good faith before the agreed deadline were assured by the local authority that they would still be able to access their full 70 hours of respite, even after the contract concluded. However, Surrey County Council has since withdrawn that commitment, leaving hundreds of unpaid carers at risk of losing their remaining support with just a few weeks’ notice.
“This abrupt U-turn not only breaks the promise made to unpaid carers, it also places already exhausted individuals in an impossible position,” said Terry Hawkins, CEO at Crossroads Care Surrey.
“We know just how vital these respite breaks are for carers’ mental and physical health, enabling them to take a break from their caring role and to be able to enjoy a small amount of time each week for themselves. We also know that at such a difficult time, the loss of this service will undoubtedly place an even greater burden on the already stretched GPs and hospitals across the county.”
However, incredibly generous supporters of Crossroads Care Surrey have saved the day – for now. This unexpected boost has created the breathing room to address the sudden and gaping hole in care needs. It means the charity can honour all scheduled respite hours for existing clients up until 30 November 2025, even though the local authority made a last-minute decision to cut off further funding.
“Whilst it’s deeply disappointing to see the council walk away from their commitment, we’re proud to stand by unpaid carers when they need us most,” said Terry Hawkins. “It has given us the means to do the right thing, and we are incredibly grateful.”
The charity is urging those affected to contact Surrey County Council if they wish to challenge the withdrawal of their remaining hours or eligibility for alternative respite payments. The charity has also made clear that carers can continue receiving support beyond November through its Crossroads Direct self-funded service.
Crossroads Care Surrey is committed to campaigning for and supporting unpaid carers across the region and is calling on individuals, businesses, and the wider community to help ensure no carer is left without support in the future.
