Carers Direct’s “Who Cares?” marketing campaign won a DBA Design Effectiveness Award in February 2011. This prestigious award recognises the positive and cost effective impact that the Carers Direct campaign had in helping carers find the website and helpline.
During the campaign period, there was a 142% increase in site visits and a 200% increase in calls to the helpline.
The “Who Cares?” campaign targeted hidden carers – those who support or look after a loved one but do not see this support as care, and therefore do not recognise themselves as carers.
The award follows a victory in the The Guardian Public Services Awards 2009 for service delivery: carers, families and communities.
The Guardian award judges praised the Carers Direct website, helpline (0808 802 0202) and directory of local services for bringing together information and advice for carers in one place.
The judges said they were impressed by the volume, impact and targeted value Carers Direct offers across the country, calling it "a phenomenal development for the carers movement".
The award was sponsored by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care.
The Carers Direct helpline (the Department of Health) was also shortlisted for two awards in 2010: the European Call Centre Awards (partnership category) and the Customer Contact Association Awards (partnership category).
Counsel + Care also commended Carers Direct’s Caring for a parent at home video in its 2010 Older People in the Media Awards.
