Surrey County Council’s u-turn threatens respite breaks for nearly 300 Unpaid Carers
Jeanette* in Wotton provides round-the-clock unpaid care to her husband. At the same time, she is facing her own battle with cancer.
Like many unpaid carers, Jeanette depended on funded respite breaks. These allowed her to temporarily take a step back from her caring role, and to enjoy some precious hours to herself each week.
For the last 14 years Crossroads Care Surrey has been funded to deliver these respite breaks for unpaid carers across the county. But in February 2025, Surrey County Council served the charity with six months’ notice on the carers wellbeing breaks contract. This contract was supposed to have run until March 2027.
This meant that, from August 2025, Crossroads Care would no longer be able to provide the unpaid carers with the support of their much needed respite breaks.
For people like Jeanette, this news came as a shock. She told the charity:
“I am devastated the funding is no longer available to us. It had been my lifeline.
“This weekend was very hard; I did contemplate taking my own life as I can’t really cope anymore with no help.
“I’m at breaking point with nowhere to turn. I thought we had this and now I’m alone again – for how long, I don’t know.”
The People Behind The Figures
For Surrey County Council, this was likely just a budget decision. Cutting this funding will help them save costs.
But this isn’t about numbers. It’s about people: Our neighbours, our friends, and our family members who devote their entire lives to caring for loved ones with disabilities, dementia, or serious illnesses.
Any carers who joined the funded respite service 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. Since Surrey County Council u-turned on this commitment, hundreds of unpaid carers are now at risk of losing their remaining support with just a few weeks’ notice.
Jeanette is not alone – every unpaid carer we support will feel just as devastated by this loss. The Council might save some money. But at what cost?
The Real “Cost of Care”
Without respite breaks, many carers will have to cancel upcoming medical appointments, which could seriously damage their long-term mental and physical health. Through no fault of their own, this will inevitably place an even greater strain on the NHS, meaning the original budget cuts will have all been for nothing.
However, even without these health implications, the loss of funded respite breaks mean that these unpaid carers will now have no choice but to spend every waking moment undertaking their caring responsibilities. They are now facing the prospect of working around the clock, with no chance of even a small break, indefinitely.
No wonder unpaid carers like Jeanette are feeling so devastated, and so alone.
Jeanette is Not Alone
After Surrey County Council cruelly u-turned on their commitment to honour these much needed respite breaks, we knew we had to step in.
Our incredibly generous supporters saved the day: an unexpected boost in funding means we can honour all scheduled respite hours for 274 existing clients up until 30 November 2025.
At the same time, we’re urging anyone affected by this decision to contact Surrey County Council. You can challenge the withdrawal of your remaining hours, and you can also see if you’re eligible for alternative respite payments.
Plus, carers can continue receiving support beyond November through our Crossroads Direct self-funded service.
Proud to Stand By Unpaid Carers
Crossroads Care Surrey’s CEO, Terry Hawkins, said:
“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.
“This abrupt U-turn not only breaks the promise made to unpaid carers, but it also places already exhausted individuals in an impossible position. 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.
“While 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.”
Sign Our Petition!
Carers planned their lives around Surrey County Council’s promise to them. The Council decided to break this promise, with potentially devastating costs.
We are taking legal action to challenge this decision.
But your voice matters too.
Sign this petition demanding Surrey County Council:
- Immediately reverse their unlawful contract termination
- Honour their promise to all affected carers
- Restore the respite breaks that 274 of Surrey’s most loving, loyal people
desperately need
Sign our petition to demand the council stop abandoning unpaid carers!
*Jeanette is not her real name. She asked to remain anonymous because she feared that speaking out might impact on the service she receives from the council.
