ACORN brings together family and friend carers, researchers, practitioners and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) partners to strengthen carer‑inclusive applied research across the East of England.
Background
Unpaid carers – family members, friends, and neighbours who support someone with illness, disability or frailty – play a vital role in the health and social care system. In the UK, there are around 5.7 million unpaid carers, providing care worth an estimated £162 billion per year – almost equal to the annual cost of the NHS. Despite their crucial contribution, carers often experience poor physical and mental health, financial strain, and social isolation. Research on carers is growing, but carers themselves are still underrepresented in shaping research priorities, design, and delivery. ACORN was created to address this gap by building regional capacity for carer-inclusive and carer-led research, ensuring that research better reflects carers’ experiences and informs improvements in policy and practice. The network focuses on ensuring that carers’ lived experience meaningfully informs research priorities, design and delivery, and that evidence generated through research contributes to improvements in policy and practice. ACORN also supports affiliated work, including the ongoing Young Carers in Norfolk primary schools study, which is building local evidence on how schools identify and support young carers. .
Project Aims
- Promote the inclusion of unpaid carers and carer perspectives in health and care research.
- Support and connect carers, researchers and practitioners to develop co‑designed, impactful research.
- Build skills and confidence among members to undertake carer‑related and carer‑inclusive studies.
- Deliver locally relevant, member‑prioritised research that address gaps in evidence
Project Activity
- Mapped the regional landscape of carer research, identifying gaps and opportunities for collaboration.
- Delivered capacity‑building activity (workshops, networking and mentoring) to support co‑production and carer involvement.
- Delivered a member‑prioritised regional project in 2025, focused on improving understanding and support for young carers.
- Ran showcase and communication activities to share learning and raise the profile of carer‑inclusive research.
Outcomes and impact
- A clearer shared understanding of current carer‑related research and evidence gaps across the East of England.
- Increased interest in, and capability for, co‑produced research involving carers.
- Stronger regional relationships between carers, researchers, practitioners and VCSE partners.
- Delivery of a locally relevant research project on young carers.
- Practical learning and resources to support ongoing carer‑inclusive research practice.
Who was involved?
- Lisa Franks, PI, University of East Anglia
- Kristy Sanderson, University of East Anglia
- Allison Bentley, University of East Anglia
- Morag Farquhar, University of East Anglia
- Fiona Poland, University of East Anglia
- Elspeth Mathie, University of Hertfordshire
- PPI (various)
Contact
Lisa Franks, Lisa.Franks@uea.ac.uk
