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Motivated by the difficult experience of caring for her terminally ill father, Natalie Cassidy has embarked on a new path by training as a carer. Reflecting on those final moments, Cassidy describes them as “breathtakingly hard but quite incredible really.” She recalls tenderly holding her father’s hand and reassuring him, saying, “It’s OK, you can go now, we’re all good, you’ve done your job.” This deeply personal experience inspired Cassidy to explore caregiving more formally, leading her to leave her acting career temporarily to participate in a BBC series titled *Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together*.
The program aims to illuminate the challenges facing the UK’s social care system, which is under severe strain due to financial difficulties, staff shortages, and the closure of care facilities. Returning to education for the first time since she left school at sixteen, Cassidy is now pursuing a Level 3 BTEC qualification in health and social care. Throughout this year-long course, she is studying a range of subjects such as autism, dementia, and first aid. Her practical training includes placements in settings like a childhood diabetes unit, St John Ambulance, and a care home. “Caring for Dad right up until the end of his life, and losing him, was one of the most painful things I’ve ever had to do,” Cassidy shares. “But the people I met have changed my life and are so inspirational. That’s what spurred me on to do this.”
Cassidy is best known for her long-standing role as Sonia Fowler in *EastEnders*, which she began at the age of ten. Though acting has been her sole profession, she has often pondered other possible vocations, especially given her background surrounded by caregiving. Growing up, her mother cared for her grandmother, who lived with them, exposing Cassidy early on to the world of care. Later, as her father’s health declined, the family adapted their living arrangements to include an annexe so he could maintain a degree of independence while receiving support from both a professional carer named Linda and Natalie herself. Cassidy credits Linda with enabling her to continue working throughout this time and being a crucial presence during her father’s final moments. Her father passed away in April 2021.
At college, Cassidy is inspired by the dedication and compassion of young classmates pursuing careers in care and emergency services. One particularly memorable student, Tilly, has been her mother’s primary carer since childhood due to her mother’s multiple sclerosis. Cassidy acknowledges the silent commitment of millions of unpaid carers across the UK, stating, “There are millions of unsung carers just doing their business and going about it and they don’t talk about it.” The UK care sector faces ongoing recruitment difficulties, exacerbated by demanding work conditions and immigration policy changes, while an ageing population continues to increase demand. Besides professional workers, unpaid carers and volunteers play an indispensable role in supporting social care. According to recent Census data, nearly 5.8 million unpaid carers exist in the UK, with a significant portion providing 50 or more hours of care weekly. Many report feelings of isolation, exhaustion, and sacrifice, including giving up employment to meet caring responsibilities.
Through her studies and hands-on experiences, Cassidy has broadened her understanding of caregiving beyond her initial interest in palliative and elderly care. During her placement focused on at-home support, she met Lisa, who lives with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, and her partner Gary, who cares for her. Cassidy describes the encounter as “very emotional,” admiring their positivity and loving relationship despite the challenges they face. Yet, her favorite experience has been working in dementia care. She fondly remembers Monica, a former nurse with Alzheimer’s, remarking, “Monica was such a lovely lady. I really, really, really enjoyed the dementia home.” The connection she formed with residents left her eager to spend more time with them, saying, “I genuinely came away from them and thought, I’m really going to miss
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