Benefits
Carers Support
https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/support-and-benefits-for-carers
Carers UK – www.carersuk.org
As the UK’s only national membership charity for carers, Carers UK is both a supportive community and a movement for change.
Carers Trust – www.carers.org
Carers Trust work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend. The Trust does this with a UK wide network of quality assured independent partners and through the provision of grants to help carers get the extra help they need to live their own lives. With locally based Network Partners the Trust is able to support carers in their homes through the provision of replacement care, and in the community with information, advice, emotional support, hands on practical help and access to much needed breaks. The Trust offers specialist services for carers of people of all ages and conditions and a range of individually tailored support and group activities.
Care Information Scotland – www.careinfoscotland.scot
If you look after someone, need care yourself or are planning for your future care needs, you can get the information and advice you need from this website. The council can help you to get the services you need and what you’re entitled to get, so you – or the person you care for – can live at home as independently as possible. Most people have to pay for all or part of their care and support, but the council has a duty to assess your needs and advise you on the local services available. It can’t force someone to move out of their home – into a care home, for example – if the person has the ability to make decisions for themselves.
Care Quality Commission – https://www.cqc.org.uk/
Their role is to make sure that hospitals, care homes, dental and general practices and other care services in England provide people with safe, effective and high-quality care, and we encourage them to make improvements.
They monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find, including performance ratings to help people choose care.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support/nhs-continuing-care
Beacon Continuing Healthcare – https://beaconchc.co.uk/
Beacon are able to provide free consultations of up to 90 minutes with an independent NHS continuing healthcare adviser. This is funded by NHS England.
As a social enterprise they are committed to providing affordable services. They do not offer exploitative ‘No Win No Fee’ arrangements and their hourly rate is two-thirds cheaper than the rates charged by many other firms.
Counselling
Transport
https://www.gov.uk/transport-disabled
Taxicard – www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/taxicard
Taxicard is a scheme that provides subsided transport for people who have serious mobility impairment and difficulty in using public transport, within participating London Boroughs.
Taxicard holders can make journeys in licensed London taxis and private hire vehicles, and the subsidy applies directly to each trip. An application form needs to be completed on the Taxicard website.
Wheelchairs/Mobility Scooters
Shopmobility – https://www.shopmobilityuk.org/
Shopmobility is a service that helps all people who consider themselves to have mobility problems (whether through disability, illness or injury) to continue to get around city and town centres independently, with freedom, confidence and dignity.
Countryside Mobility – https://countrysidemobility.org/
Countryside Mobility South West is a not-for-profit mobility equipment hire scheme working to improve access to the countryside for people with limited mobility living in and visiting the South West region.
Countryside Mobility provides safe, enjoyable and easy access to the South West’s countryside and visitor attractions for anyone who has difficulty walking, through an off-road mobility hire scheme. The scheme operates in Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset.
The Mobility One Stop Shop –
https://www.themobilityonestopshop.co.uk
The Mobility One Stop Shop is a local company set up in 2008 by Dave Mawson, who has worked in the industry for 8 years.
We have a large range of scooters to suit all budgets and our reclining chairs and beds are of the highest quality.
Whatever your needs, The Mobility One Stop Shop is the one place that will provide the complete service, from a simple walking stick to a motorised scooter.
Equipment and Adaptations
Ability Net – https://abilitynet.org.uk/
AbilityNet is a UK charity that helps older people and disabled people of all ages use computers and the internet to achieve their goals at home, at work and in education. The charity offers a range of services that include personalised workplace and education assessments, digital accessibility testing and computer support in people’s homes.
Disabled Living Foundation – https://livingmadeeasy.org.uk/
The DLF is a national charity providing impartial advice, information and training on independent living.
Demand Equipment – https://www.demand.org.uk/
Demand Equipment provides creative equipment solutions which help disabled people get the most out of life.
They put their minds to any challenge that comes their way, whether the request is from a carer, health professional or directly from someone with a challenge they’d like to overcome. They draw on their wealth of engineering and technical knowledge to help people of any age, and with any kind of disability, regardless of their financial circumstance.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to solve an every-day living challenge or participate in a sport or leisure activity; Demand Equipment are positive that the ideal piece of equipment is not far away.
Remap – http://www.remap.org.uk
Remap is a national charity that helps disabled people achieve independence and a better quality of life by designing and making equipment for their individual needs.
Their tailor made equipment helps people to carry out essential daily tasks without having to ask for help, or helps them take part in leisure occupations or sports that would otherwise be impossible.
Remap offers their equipment free of charge.
Communication Equipment
https://www.thesequaltrust.org.uk/ – The Sequal Trust are a communication disability charity who fund communication aids for those who are non-verbal, have incoherent speech or severe learning difficulties. They will fund a communication aid or assistive device where NHS funding is unavailable or a low income family can not support the cost of a device. Their main objective is to set lively minds free and anybody can register for their help on their website.
Electronic Assistive Technology Service (EATS) – https://lincolnatservice.nhs.uk/
The aim of the service is to provide a comprehensive, highly specialist, assistive technology assessment, recommendation and equipment. This includes the installation and decommissioning of equipment with the provision of a 24 hour callout service.
As those referred to the service have complex and often degenerative conditions, it provides reassessment as their condition changes. The service also provides training of health professionals, as well as care planning and advice, to the patient, carers and all relevant organisations or services.
Lisburn Housing Executive – https://www.nihe.gov.uk/
They provide advice and grants for home adaptations for the whole of Northern Ireland.
Hospice Support
https://www.hospiceuk.org/hospice-care-finder
Types of support provided by hospices – https://www.hospiceuk.org/about-hospice-care/what-is-hospice-care
Travel
Accessible locations – https://www.disabledgo.com
Enable Holidays – https://www.enableholidays.com/
A disabled holiday specialist for people with limited mobility, their families and friends. Destinations include: Egypt, Singapore and the Caribbean.
Disabled Holidays – www.disabledholidays.com
A holiday organisation that provides a wide range of locations and accommodation styles for people needing accessible holidays. Holiday destinations include: Austria, Holland and Iceland.
Lions Club – http://www.lionsclubs.ie/
Has a base in all Irish towns and will help funding of respite breaks or holidays for people with significant health problems.
Calvert Trust Lake District
Lake District Calvert Trust provides accessible outdoor activity breaks and courses for people with disabilities, together with their families and friends.
The Lakes should be accessible to everyone. Their residential breaks help people with a range of disabilities experience the Lake District in a safe and supportive way. Delivering a fun and fulfilling experience that makes a positive difference in their lives.
CallConnect – https://lincsbus.com/callconnect/
CallConnect is an on demand bus service. Since 2001 our buses have been serving hamlets, villages and market towns throughout Lincolnshire and neighbouring counties. We offer passengers the flexibility to connect to their local communities and other transport options.
Other Helpful Organisations
National Key Scheme for Accessible Toilets (RADAR) – https://www.radarkey.org/
The National Key Scheme offers disabled people independent access to locked public toilets around the country.
The British Pain Society – https://www.britishpainsociety.org/
The British Pain Society aims to promote education, training, research and development in all fields of pain. It endeavours to increase both professional and public awareness of the prevalence of pain and the facilities that are available for its management. The Society is involved in all aspects of pain and its management through the work of the Council, various Committees, Special Interest Groups and Working Parties and via its publications, Annual Scientific Meeting and educational seminars.
Long Term Illness Scheme – https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/drugs-and-medicines/long-term-illness-scheme/
If you have certain long-term illnesses or disabilities, you may apply to join the Long Term Illness Scheme and you will be supplied with a Long Term Illness book. This book allows you to get drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of your illness, free of charge. It does not depend on your income or other circumstances but you must be a resident in Ireland.
Sue Ryder – https://www.sueryder.org/
Sue Ryder is there to make sure that everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need
Royal Volunteer Service – https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/
One of the largest voluntary service organisations in Great Britain with volunteers who give their skills, experience, energy and time to provide practical help, companionship and support to people in need in hospitals, at home and in the community.
Home Care Package Ireland – https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health-services/health-services-for-older-people/home-support-service/
The Home Care Package (HCP) scheme is an administrative scheme, operated by the HSE. It aims to help people who need medium to high caring support to continue to live at home independently. The scheme is not means tested, and there is no charge or contribution to be paid for the services provided.
Each support package is tailored to your individual needs. The package may include the services of nurses, home helps and various therapies including physiotherapy and occupational therapy services. You might also receive some respite care or aids or appliances as part of your HCP if these are needed to support you to stay in your own home. The services that are supplied will depend on your needs, as assessed by the HSE, and the levels of other supports available to you, such as family members or friends.
Check with your Local Health Office for more details on the scheme in your area.
Integrated Neurological Services – www.ins.org.uk
Integrated Neurological Services is a registered charity providing long-term support for people with neurological conditions and their carers.
We support people living in the London Boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond.
Some of the services offered include home visits carried out by therapy staff, regular groups for clients and short term groups for clients and their carers. Some of the groups include; Creative therapies, Hydrotherapy and carer support groups.
Shine, Lincolnshire – https://shinelincolnshire.com/
Shine is a mental health Support Network based in Lincolnshire. Their site is designed to provide a place where people can exchange information about themselves and services. On their website you can read notices of activities, relevant events, opportunities or current information.
Family Carers Organisation – https://familycarers.ie
Family Carers Organisation is a national organisation through Eire that provides advise and support to claim benefits and assist with completing forms, checking eligibility and supporting people through appeals.
Memory Lane Caf̩ Рhttps://www.destinationcranleigh.com/directory/memory-lane-cafe/
The Memory Lane Cafe is held at the Cranleigh Arts Centre on the first Monday of the month. It provides an opportunity for carers to relax, chat and share advice and experiences over a cup of tea while your loved ones have fun with stimulating activities. Just turn up you will be made most welcome.
Early Onset Parkinson’s Ireland (EOPD) – https://eopd.ie/
Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease (EOPD.ie) is a completely voluntary registered not for profit, providing peer Parkinson’s support all over Ireland. We are a small but committed team with big plans for the future of the organisation.
Our aim is to assist people with Parkinson’s, their families and carers, health professionals and other interested people by offering support, a listening ear and information on any aspect of living with Early Onset Parkinson’s. Over 18,000 people in Ireland have Parkinson’s Disease.