Carers
Young Carers
A young carer is someone aged 18 and under who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support. Older young carers are also known as young adult carers and are 16-25 years old.
Whilst many young carers are hidden, they may display signs in school or college that indicate they need support. This could include regular lateness and or low attendance, tiredness and or low attention span or a change in behaviour, becoming aggressive or angry, withdrawn, or quieter than usual. Always considering if someone is a young carer is a good starting point.
Family Carers
A Family Carer is someone, who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.
Very Brief Intervention
Ask
How are you coping currently by being a carer?
Is there any external support you would need to support you in your role as a carer?
Do you find you have enough time for yourself, among your other responsibilities?
Do you have any contact with friends, family or support services to discuss any difficulties you may been going through?
How much sleep do you currently get, on average?
Are there moments where you feel angry towards the person you are supporting and in turn feel guilty because of it?
Assist
Depression
Depression is a treatable condition that has often been found amongst carers. If you suffer from a loss of appetite, poor sleep, low mood, hopelessness or lack of enjoyment, you must speak to your GP. This is particularly important if the depression leads to thoughts of death and self-harm.
Treatment can be effective in bringing relief from these unpleasant symptoms and feelings. There are specific support / therapeutic groups for carers. These groups offer a chance to share experiences and gain some emotional support from other people in a similar role / situation. Individual therapy is available for carers to support them through this journey. This support could be accessed through Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). You can self-refer or ask your GP to make a referral. If you are caring for someone with memory problems, the Memory Service can also offer some support to carers. Medication may also be an option in dealing with depressive feelings.
How do you cope with depression?
You may find that you withdraw from friends and family and reduce your usual daily activities. It is important to keep yourself active. Try to do one small enjoyable activity a day.
Anger
Carers may feel angry about many aspects of their situation - the unfairness, the responsibilities and the change in lifestyle. Anger is more likely to appear when you are tired, alone or unwell. The experience can reawaken strong feelings that have their roots in memories buried in the past.
Being a carer can sometimes be a very stressful role. It may not be possible for one person to do it all.
How do you cope with anger?
If it is safe to do so take yourself out of the situation for a period. Why not treat yourself to a regular break? Call a friend or relative who understands - ask them to come and be with you or give you a break. Think about what it is that makes you angry. Writing it all down can be as helpful as having someone to talk to.
Guilt
Being angry with the person you are looking after can make carers feel guilty. You think that you should be able to cope and never get angry with someone who cannot help what they do.
Some people become carers out of a sense of duty. They may feel guilty because they don’t get any pleasure from their role. Others may have grown to resent the person they are caring for because of their behaviour and the demands that they make. For some, the negative feelings are not new but arise out of a relationship that has been difficult in the past.
Depression, anger and guilt can be very draining – they can take away the humour, erode the enjoyment and make caring much more stressful. Sharing these feelings with other carers can bring some relief as you discover that you are not alone.
Isolation
Caring for someone can lead to isolation. Your lifestyle, including social contacts, can get lost.
You may want to share information about the condition of the person you are caring for with your family and friends to help them understand. For example, directing them to resources online. It is important that you talk with people close to you about the challenges you face. Share the positives with people too. Joining a network of people in a caring role can be supportive as they can understand some of the struggles you face.
Getting a break
Carers need time for themselves. Sometimes this can be arranged through day care or respite. Alternatively a ‘sitter’, relative or friend may be able to take over the care for a short while.
Use the time to look after yourself. Why not take up one of your hobbies again, or visit family and friends whose company you enjoy. Take a walk in the garden, make a cup of tea and have five minutes to yourself. Carers’ groups can provide helpful information as well as the opportunity to make new friends who share and understand your situation. Details of local caring organisations are listed below under Local Support.
Act
National Support
Carers Trust
Carers Trust works to transform the lives of unpaid carers.
It partners with its network of local carer organisations to provide funding and support, deliver innovative and evidence-based programmes and raise awareness and influence policy. Carers Trust’s vision is that unpaid carers are heard and valued, with access to support, advice and resources to enable them to live fulfilled lives.
On the website you will find a search tab to look up any local support services in your local area
Website: Homepage - Carers Trust
NHS - Support and Benefits for Carers
Includes carer's assessments, support from local councils, respite care and help for young carers.
See if you can get support from your council, such as extra money or a break from caring.
How you can take a break from caring for someone else.
Financial support for people who care for others.
If you are aged 13-19 and you care for someone else there are people who can support you.
If you are 18 or under and you care for someone you are entitled to help and support.
Carers UK
Looking after someone can be tough, but you’re not on your own. Carers UK is here to listen, to give you expert information and advice that’s tailored to your situation, to champion your rights and support you in finding new ways to manage at home, at work, or wherever you are.
We give expert advice, information and support.
Caring can be extremely complicated. The maze of rights and entitlements can be complicated. Filling in paperwork can be complicated. Getting a break can be complicated. Our feelings about caring can certainly be complicated.
We're here to make sure that no matter how complicated your query or your experience, you don't have to care alone.
Our expert telephone advice and support service is here if you want to talk about caring. If you're looking for answers, our online information and support is the best place to start.
We connect carers so no-one has to care alone.
Every day 6,000 people become carers. It can be bewildering if you don't know where to turn for help and support.
Through our carers' groups and volunteers we're reaching out in local communities throughout the UK and online.
If you're new to caring, we want to make sure you get the right support from the start.
Website: Home - Carers UK
Local Support and Contact Details
Essex
Essex Wellbeing Service
Essex Wellbeing Service (EWS) has a dedicated support offer for carers. We offer a confidential phone call to discuss your situation and can provide information, advice and guidance to help connect you to the right support and information about local support that is available to you as a carer in Essex.
Telephone: 0300 303 9988
Website: Essex Wellbeing Service
Hertfordshire County Council
If you look after an adult who couldn’t manage without you, you're a carer. There's support for you too.
For advice and resources available please go to visit Hertfordshire County Council.
Luton Council
Allowances, benefits and legal rights for carers
Services for carers
- Carer's breaks: so you can take time out from caring
- Carer's direct payment: a one-off award for carers in need
Resources for carers
- Care and support for the person you care for
- Buses, parking and transport for carers
- Local concessions for carers
- Carer health and wellbeing
- Luton Adult Learning: get into learning
- Local adult training and education
- Safeguarding adults
Young Carers Service - CHUMS
The CHUMS Young Carers Service supports children and young people aged 5-25 in Luton who have a practical caring role for a parent or sibling; they could be helping to care for someone with a disability, chronic or serious illness, mental health condition or learning difficulty. Young carers take on a lot of responsibility at home and this can often lead to them feeling isolated and alone; CHUMS helps young carers to feel seen, heard and valued.
Website: https://chums.uk.com/young-carers/
Carers Central
Carers Central is a free service provided by The Disability Resource Centre.
The service is completely free and dedicated to unpaid carers living or caring for someone in Luton.
The service provides advice and information for carers, derived from the knowledge and experience of working with all the existing local services; Luton GP practices, the Carers Partnership Board in Luton and many operational partners like Mind BLMK, Deafblind UK, LutonSENDIAS, Autism Bedfordshire, Luton All Women’s Centre, Headway Luton and many more.
Website: https://carerscentral.org.uk/
Telephone: 0300 303 0201 Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10am to 4pm, and on Tuesdays from 10am to 7pm.
Norfolk Millennium Trust for Carers
“The Norfolk Millennium Trust for Carers aims to offer unpaid carers a better quality of life by giving grants towards short breaks, recreational items, hobbies or leisure activities.”
Offer: Norfolk
Carers Matter Norfolk
“Being a carer can be both challenging and rewarding. Sometimes you might want just a little bit of support in your caring role, some information & advice or to become involved by having your say in carers services. Our team of Advisors and Family Carer Practitioners are here to help you.”
Website: https://carersmatternorfolk.org.uk/
https://carersmatternorfolk.org.uk/groups/
Offer: Norfolk
Carers Voice
“As a Carer, you are an ‘expert’ through your lived experience of caring and you should be able to have a say in services, policies and decisions that affect you and the people that you care for. At Carers Voice, we are here to give unpaid Carers a voice in the way their services in Norfolk and Waveney are designed, developed and delivered.”
Website: https://www.carersvoice.org/
Offer: Norfolk and Waveney
Caring Together
“Caring Together is a leading charity supporting carers of all ages across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk. We provide information and advice, run services in our local communities and campaign so that carers have choices.”
Website: https://www.caringtogether.org/
Offer: Norfolk
GYGYC
“GYGYC provides a seamless service for young carers (YC 5 -17) and Young Adult Carers (YAC 18 to 21) in the Borough of Great Yarmouth. We offer age specific Peer Groups, a one to one mentoring scheme and small groups in schools and colleges across the Borough. Currently due to the Covid-19 pandemic we are offering an online service. Our service is offered to young people aged 5 to 21 who are affected by their families situations either due to them caring for another member of their family, or are affected by the home situations due to missing out of the normal activities as they go through the transition from children to adults.”
Website: https://gygyc.co.uk/
Offer: Great Yarmouth
Young Carers Matter Norfolk
“The Young Carers & Families Service is a partnership of voluntary sector organisations specialising in supporting carers and young people. Together we are able to provide support to young carers and their families across Norfolk. We have a team of Triage & Assessment Workers and Family Care Practitioners who work with families to ensure the right support is put in place to remove or reduce the caring the young carer provides. Across Norfolk we work with our partners Youth Workers and Young Carer Support Worker to provide:
- 1:1 and group support
- fun activities
- the opportunity to meet other young carers
- learn new skills
- wellbeing sessions
The service is commissioned and funded by Norfolk County Council and managed by Voluntary Norfolk.
Website: https://www.youngcarersmatternorfolk.org/
Offer: Norfolk
Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System – Carers in Norfolk and Waveney
“Unpaid Carers of all ages play a vital role in keeping people safe and well at home who would otherwise need ongoing care from local services. Local and national data consistently shows that caring can have a significant negative impact on Carers’ own health and wellbeing. You can learn more about how we work with Carers here. Read on to see what support and information is available in Norfolk and Waveney.”
Website: https://improvinglivesnw.org.uk/our-work/healthier-communities/carers-support/
Offer: Norfolk and Waveney
Updated: 07/02/2023
Review Date: 07/05/2023
Suffolk
Suffolk County Council
Finding help and support in Suffolk
Adult and Community Services work with the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to provide support for carers from Suffolk Family Carers and Alzheimer's Society. Both are valuable sources of information, advice and support for family carers on a whole range of issues.
You can use our website to find more information about:
- financial support for carers
- health and wellbeing support for carers
- breaks for carers
- carers assessments
- Family Carer Emergency Plan
Further national information, advice and guidance
- The Care Act 2014 including factsheet 8: the law for carers
- Suffolk County Council subscribe to Carers UK resources. You can find information for unpaid carers including who are in employment
- Alzheimer’s Society including Carers: looking after yourself
Website: Help for carers | Suffolk County Council
Telephone: 0345 606 6067
Email: customer.services@suffolk.gov.uk.
Areas service covers: All of Suffolk
Suffolk Family Carers
What we do
Caring can be extremely complicated. The maze of rights and entitlements can be complicated. Filling in paperwork can be complicated. Trying to organise a break can be complicated. Our feelings about caring can certainly be complicated.
We’re here to make sure that no matter how complicated your query or your experience, you don’t have to care alone.
99% of family carers felt that Suffolk Family Carers listened, and gave them information and advice to empower them to make informed decisions about their caring role.
We provide innovative services, often ahead of the field. Our work with young carers in now long established and well respected in over 90 schools and colleges across Suffolk. We have support workers in all the main hospitals across Suffolk, and GP surgeries in West & East Suffolk, to identify and support family carers. We introduced the ‘Carer Friendly Hospital’ award for hospitals, to recognise the needs of the family carer alongside the patient. Our work within the sphere of mental health and wellbeing is considered exemplary by family carers and practitioners alike. We also support family carers who are affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use. We signpost to relevant agencies and provide positive opportunities to meet others in a similar situation, share viewpoints and discuss different strategies.
Website: Suffolk Family Carers | Established Charity Helping Family Carers
Telephone: 01473835477
Online Contact: Contact Us | Suffolk Family Carers
Areas service covers: All of Suffolk
Young Carers
Young Carers: Support for young Carers (8–18-year-olds): can get support from Thurrock Young Carers
Sunshine Centre: Support for young carers (aged 4-8) at Sunshine Centre (Tilbury)
Website: The Sunshine Centre | Sunshine Centre for disabled children | Thurrock Council
Carers
Support for Carers: Thurrock Council - Information and advice for carers
Website: Caring for someone | Support for carers | Thurrock Council
Thurrock Carers Service: provides information, advice and support to all adults who are unpaid carers of a Thurrock resident. The service is free and confidential. It is based in Thurrock and was created by 3 local voluntary sector organisations