BBC Radio Bristol’s ‘Carer Award’ winner – A heartfelt interview with Carina Andrews

Carina Andrews has been a dedicated advocate for carers for many years, devoting her time and energy to uplifting those who often go unheard. Her passion for supporting unpaid carers led to the creation of Invisible Army in 2019, a community interest company she co-founded with photographer Tina Gue. Together, they use the power of art to bring attention to the experiences and challenges faced by carers.

Their first major project, Stories of Carers, featured a moving exhibition of portraits and personal stories from 32 local carers. Some of these impactful images may already feel familiar, as Carina and Tina graciously allowed us to use them on our own platforms. Another striking exhibition, 40,138, visually represented the 40,138 unpaid carers in Bristol through a beautiful arrangement of flowers.

Currently, Carina and Tina are hard at work on their Carers Strike Project, encouraging carers to express themselves creatively by imagining what a “strike” from their caregiving role might look like. The project aims to inspire solidarity and raise awareness, and they’re eager for as many carers as possible to get involved.

Given her tireless dedication, we were thrilled to see Carina win the Carer Award at the 2024 BBC Radio Bristol Make a Difference Awards. She will also be speaking at our Carers Rights Day on 20 November, where she’ll discuss Invisible Army and her ongoing mission to support carers. If you’re interested in seeing Carina and many other key members of our community talk about carers issues, book your place for the event.

1. Could you tell us a bit about your caring journey?

I have been a carer for over 25 years now. When I was aged five my mum started to struggle with her mental health. For the last 12 years, I also provided care for my dad who had Parkinson’s Disease. I provided his end-of-life care for several months until he died in December last year. Though my caring role changed dramatically at that point, I continue to provide care to my mum.

2. You started caring at such a young age. Was there a moment when you realised that what you’re doing was caring? How did that understanding change your perspective?

I did not know I was a young carer or that what I was doing was any different to other families until I was aged 16 and my mental health hit a crisis point and a social worker referred me to the Carers Support Centres Young Carers Team. It was amazing to meet other young people with similar responsibilities and worries as me. I learned that I was doing my best, and that my mum’s health wasn’t due to me not being good enough—I was just a child.

3. Could you tell us the story of how Invisible Army came about?

I attended a Carers art group that was set up by Artspace Lifespace in Bristol. I was the only one who attended but the very kind artist was willing to listen to me and during our conversation, I mentioned I would love to write carers stories to try and let people know what it really means to be a carer. Later, that artist met Tina Gue, who had just completed a photography project taking portraits of middle-aged women. During that project, Tina met some carers and wanted to learn more. The artist connected us and Tina and I met in a cafe on a rainy day and within the hour Invisible Army’s march began! We aim to shine a light on the joys and challenges carers face every day.

4. Looking back at your work with Invisible Army, can you think of any moment or project that you found particularly rewarding?

Invisible Army has been an incredible journey with so many rewarding moments! We had a very special moment just this week when we visited a family where the wife and two children were caring for their husband/dad. After some time of Tina taking photographs of their usual day and me chatting to hear about their story the young boy, aged 11 says, “I think you are the best people that have ever visited us.” To us that told us he felt safe and heard which is exactly why we do what we do.

5. We love seeing carers express themselves through the creative arts. How do you think art and creativity can help carers?

We use art as a tool to create social change, as it is an incredibly powerful way not only to be heard but also to personally process your journey and decide what you wish to share. We also believe that art is for everyone. You don’t have to be good at drawing to be good at art. Sometimes, making art in any medium is simply the opportunity to stop, slow down, notice the beauty even in this often stressful world, experience the feeling of connection a piece of writing can bring, or the positive messages our brain receives when we see someone laughing in a photograph. Everyone should be encouraged to try, to enjoy, to experience, to be heard without fear.

6. We’re so pleased you got the recognition you deserve at the BBC Radio Bristol Make a Difference Awards. What did this award mean to you?

The award evening was a beautiful experience! When my name was called as the winner and I was invited on stage my legs were shaking. I am so incredibly grateful to Tina who is the co-director and photographer at Invisible Army and Pearl who is a carer who shared her story with us, for nominating me. Being a carer has been an incredibly challenging journey for me. I am able to see the beauty in being a carer but if I am honest a lot of the time it is exhausting, heartbreaking, isolating and frustrating. Being able to use my experience to connect with carers and ensure society values the care we provide in turn helps me to heal. I have felt incredibly privileged in every carers’ home I have been in to hear their story and will continue to ensure everyone knows what it really means to be a carer and that we have rights too.

7. Do you have any ideas about where you’d like to go with Invisible Army in the future?

I would love to have a huge portfolio of carer stories which truly represent the diversity of unpaid care. I would then like those stories to permanently be in public venues. Our current next steps are collecting carer stories in North Somerset and Bristol to exhibit at Weston General Hospital from March to September 2025 and then at Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) from March to September 2026. We are also creating a Carers Strike Art installation which will be exhibited at Circular Artspace in Fishponds in December 2024, with the hope that this piece will tour in a procession and other venues.