Carers Support
This page offers some practical advice on other avenues of support available to you to alleviate some of your fears and anxieties.
Carer Organisations
Carers UK
Carers UK is the national voice for carers. With over 40 years of experience and a successful record of achievement they have the authority and knowledge to continue to press for change. Click here for more information – Carers UK - of follow the link below.
Tel: 020 7490 8818
Email: caring@carersuk.org
Website: www.carersuk.org
Carers Trust
Carers Trust is a new charity which was formed by the merger of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care in April 2012.
Carers Trust works to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. With our Network Partners, we aim to ensure that information, advice and practical support are available to all carers across the UK.
To find out more visit: Carers Trust
Working Families
Working Families is the UK’s leading work-life balance organisation. The charity helps working parents and carers and their employers find a better balance between responsibilities at home and work.
To find out more visit: Working Families
Caring Schemes/Initiatives
Caring with Confidence
If you are looking after a relative or friend, Caring with Confidence can help you to make a positive difference to your life and that of the person you look after.
Caring with Confidence is part of the Government’s ‘New Deal for Carers’ – an initiative aimed at improving support for carers aged 18 and over in England.
To find out more visit: Caring with Confidence
Message in a Bottle
The Lions Message In a Bottle scheme is a simple idea designed to encourage people to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form and in a common location – the fridge.
A sticker located on the outside of the fridge indicates to paramedics that a message in the bottle can be found in the fridge.
Bottles are free of charge and can usually be found in your local chemist or doctors surgeries. You may also find that you can obtain one through your nearest Neighbourhood Watch group, Age Concern, council offices, housing associations and other places including police stations.
If you have difficulty finding a bottle, please contact Lions International:
Telephone: 0845 833 9502 Email: miab@lions.org.uk Website: www.lions.org.uk
Emergency Carer Schemes
Emergency Carer Schemes give carers peace of mind if something happens to them that stops them returning home. Many carers also feel less anxious and have more freedom.
The sort of help available might include:
- Emergency social work duty team
- Emergency respite and sitting services
-
Community alarms/panic buttons
To join a local scheme you need to register the details of the person you care for and provide information about who should be contacted in the case of an emergency. This information will be held by the local authority and will only be used in an emergency situation.
You will then be given a credit-sized card to keep with you which will include a telephone number to ring in an emergency. The card will also have a unique reference number, for people to quote when contacting the scheme operators.
There are many similar schemes operating throughout the UK, so contact your social services department via your local council or local carers’ group to find out about the schemes in your area.