A charity which supports unpaid carers in Kent is to lose 75 members of staff and develop new paid-for services following the loss of funding from the local authority.
Crossroads Care Kent received funding from contracts with Kent County Council (KCC) for providing services in both the east and west Kent, but those contracts are changing or ending.
In east Kent, the charity lost its bid to continue as lead provider of services. From 1 September, the contract and its related services transfers in full to the successful bidder, fellow charity Involve Kent.
Meanwhile, in west Kent, Crossroads Care Kent was subcontracted by the lead provider of services, another charity called Imago. This arrangement will continue, including the delivery of short breaks and crisis care across west Kent, but will involve 50% less short breaks due to the specifications required under the new contract.
In a statement on its website, Crossroads Care Kent said: “We won't pretend this isn't a substantial change for the charity. Our direct KCC funding ended in west Kent on 31 July 2026 and ends in east Kent on 31 August 2026.
“At the same time, funding continues, on a smaller scale, through our west Kent services with Imago and several other contracts.
“Alongside this, our partnership with Macmillan has also come to an end, after 13 wonderful years working together.
“We are enormously grateful for that partnership, we knew the funding was coming to an end, and we are proud of what we achieved together, and of the thousands of cancer patients and their carers we were able to support.”
According to the charity’s latest annual report and accounts, it had “around 156 staff” in total, meaning the staff loss amount to approximately half of its workforce.
It’s annual income for the year ending 31 March 2025 was £4.28m, most of which came from government contracts, and its expenditure was £3.77m.
Future funding
In the statement, charity said that alongside the reduced funding that it retains via its partnership with Imago, it is “developing paid services, including in-home care and support”.
“Alongside this, we are developing paid services, including in-home care and support. This is offered at close to the cost of delivery, so that we can provide care affordably to as many people as possible," the statement reads.
“We are not-for-profit, so once costs are covered, every penny we receive goes directly towards care and support for those who need it most, as part of our charitable services.
“We're continually expanding these services and always looking at how we can strengthen the charity further improving our fundraising and seeking grants, donations and new contracts to tender for. All of this is guided by our long-standing priority: supporting the carers of Kent.
“We hope to rebuild parts of our portfolio over time, though this won't happen overnight.”
Council response
A KCC spokesperson said: “Following a competitive procurement process, Kent County Council and NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board awarded a new adult carer support services contract from 1 August 2026.
“The new contract brings together carers’ assessments, information, advice, support and short breaks into a single service, making it easier for carers to access the help they need.
“The changes are designed to create a more joined-up and person-centred service, not to reduce support. Carers will continue to have access to assessments, advice, guidance and short breaks, and we have been working closely with outgoing and incoming providers to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of support.”
They added that Involve Kent and Imago, the new providers, are “actively working with Crossroads Care Kent and its staff on their future job arrangements”.
The spokesperson said a staff consultation regarding TUPE arrangements with the new providers is ongoing and is due to conclude on 6 September 2026.
“All carers currently using these services have been written to directly to explain the change of provider, what it means for them, and to reassure them that there will be no loss of service as a result of the new arrangements,” they added.
“We would like to thank Crossroads Care Kent for its contribution over the past 30 years in providing support to carers in Kent.”
Related articles
