Family carers provide the cornerstone of care for people with long-term illnesses and disabilities and, in the UK alone, save the government £15 million every hour. But this significant social contribution often goes unnoticed and takes a toll on carers’ physical health and mental wellbeing. In earlier times, however, carers were valued members of society, and even in other cultures today, care is a respected community activity.

Contemporary British carers have told an interdisciplinary research team based primarily at the University of Exeter, that learning about the historical and cultural context of care would help them see their role as an important part of the great human tradition, thereby reducing feelings of isolation and improving wellbeing.

For this project, archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians at the University of Exeter, Oxford Brookes University and Queen's University Belfast worked with health researchers, carers, and community organisations to establish a family care research network, and develop plans for a larger project uses evidence from each of these different disciplines to support contemporary carers. Arts-based approaches were central to the project, with all project partners committed to sharing the findings of the research with the wider community through a range of creative media.

Artist and illustrator Leo Jamelli joined as Arts and Culture Creative Fellow in 2019, working alongside the team as the research developed. He engaged with researchers and partner organisations, helping to develop ideas for a creative intervention and also creative public engagements.

Watch the film below to see how the project unfolded.

Further Collaboration

Following on from Invisible Carer, Siobhan embarked on Caring through Coronavirus, a longitudinal study of carers’ experiences during the first year of the pandemic. It was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Cardiff University, Loughborough University, Bournemouth University, and the University of Southern Denmark, and funded by the Strategic Priorities Fund. Find out more about it here.

This research led to Siobhan collaborating with Leo once again, creating two brand-new light projections in both Exeter and London. Watch the video below to find out more and see them in action.

For information about carer support in Devon contact:

Devon Carers Helpline: 03456 434 435
Samaritans: 116 123
Hikmat Devon: 01392 757220

Your can also access further support for carers on the Carers UK website here.