An agreement has been reached which will see Swindon Carers Centre continue to support thousands of unpaid carers across Swindon.

After an announcement by the centre on Monday that it would be ceasing operations at the end of the year because funding could not be agreed with Swindon Borough Council, Euclid Street has issued a joint statement from the council, the carers centre and the Bath & North East Somerset Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board

It says: “We are pleased to announce an agreement has been reached between Swindon Carers Centre, Swindon Borough Council and Bath and North East Somerset Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board for Swindon Carers Centre to provide interim carer services in Swindon from January to December 2025.

“This will follow on from the end of the current contract ending December 31, 2024.

“This provision will give stability to carer support in Swindon and to Swindon Carers Centre, which would have had to close in December following the end of the current contract; whilst allowing SBC and BSW ICB to review commissioning processes before going through a full and quality procurement for the carer services contract to start in January 2026.

“We acknowledge this has been a difficult and uncertain few days for unpaid carers in Swindon and for Swindon Carers Centre’s staff and volunteers and we are all committed to working in partnership to ensure services remain carer- focused and of high quality.”

Swindon Carers Centre shared the statement on its social media channels but did not wish to add anything to the statement when approached.

The centre had announced it would not be able to continue at the start of the week when tender talks between it and the council broke down. Swindon Borough Council said it had offered the same terms for another 12-month contract, but the carers centre said that was not enough given increasing cost pressures, including a 12 per cent increase in  demand.

After talks resumed this week leader of the council Jim Robbins tweeted: “Pleased to have met with staff and trustees of Swindon Carers Centre today to continue discussions between the charity and the council. Hopefully, we can find a way through the current challenges to keep the key support for carers in place.”

Initially it appeared there was an impasse with the carers centre telling the BBC there had been no agreement – but it seems a breakthrough was made.