Additional support for carers links A-D
If you are a carer, you may find the organisation's listed below useful. (Caring with Confidence does not endorse any of the organisations or services offered).
Alzheimer's & Dementia Support Services (ADSS) North West Kent
The Alzheimer Cafe (Hampshire)
beat - Beating Eating Disorders
Carers Advice & Resource Establishment, Sandwell (CARES)
Carers Support Service Regis, Chichester and Rural
Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC)
Disability Recreation Unity Movement (DRUM) Watford
Carers Direct
Website: www.nhs.uk/carersdirect
Tel: 0808 802 0202
Carers Direct is a practical and comprehensive information, advice and support service for carers.
Call the Carers Direct helpline if you need help with your caring role and want to talk to someone about what options are available to you. The helpline advisers can give you information to help you make decisions about your personal support needs and the needs of the person you're looking after. This information includes assessments, benefits, direct payments, individual budgets, time off and maintaining, leaving or going back to work or education.
The helpline staff will also tell you how to complain if anything goes wrong with any of the services you use or put you in contact with your local authority or NHS services. Our helpline advisers can put you in touch with specialist national or local sources of help, including social care, health and self-help networks and resources.
Alzheimer's & Dementia Support Services (ADSS) North West Kent
Website: www.alzheimers-dementia.org.uk
Tel: 01474 533990
ADSS is an independent registered charity that was set up in 1991 to provide both practical and emotional support to people with dementia and their carers living in North West Kent. This is achieved through specialist multi-cultural services namely: an information helpline, one-to-one carer support, support groups for carers and the person they care for, a carers only support group, day care for people with dementia providing respite for their carers and a Support at Home Service for people with dementia providing respite for carers.
The Alzheimer Cafe (Hampshire)
http://www.alzheimercafe.co.uk
The Alzheimer Cafe is a monthly gathering where people in Hampshire with dementia and their family and friends can be together in a safe, welcoming environment, in the company of other carers, volunteers and health care professionals, for the purpose of emotional support, education and social interaction.
A typical evening at the Cafe starts with an informal chat over light refreshments. A presentation by a professional then follows, combined with a relaxed interview with a willing family member who has hands-on, real experience of the subject being discussed. The evening continues with further social interaction and refreshment and the opportunity to informally chat to the guest speakers. Occasionally evenings are enhanced further by live music or other entertainment.
beat - Beating Eating Disorders
Web: www.b-eat.co.uk
Tel: 0845 634 1414 (Mon-Fri 10.30am - 8.30pm, Sat 1.00pm - 4.30pm)
beat is the leading UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. Eating disorders are a serious mental illness affecting 1.1 million people in the UK. beat provides helplines for adults and young people, online support and a UK-wide network of self-help groups to help people beat their eating disorder. beat's vision is simple: Eating Disorders will be Beaten.
Carers Advice & Resource Establishment, Sandwell (CARES)
Tel: 0121 558 7003
CARES was established in 1987 and works in partnership with a wide range of both statutory and voluntary organisations in the borough of Sandwell. It offers help, support, information and advice to carers and the people they look after. CARES provides a telephone helpline, an information and advice service (including outreach and home visits), emergency planning, carer support, PCT liaison and development, adult guidance and lifelong learning services.
Carers FIRST West Kent
Tel: 01732 357555
Carers FIRST are a charity which supports unpaid carers in the West Kent area. They offer the following support: information, advice and advocacy, benefits advice, advice on access to services e.g. health, education, housing, leisure, emotional support, carer training and education and short term breaks.
Carers’ Support Bexley
Tel: 020 8302 8011
Carers’ Support is a registered charity whose purpose is to offer information, support and respite for carers in the London Borough of Bexley. The respite service involves volunteers providing help to people in their own homes by giving them a break so they can go out, go away overnight or even have a holiday. They offer emotional support and a listening ear for carers, support and information for stroke survivors and their carers and assistance for young carers via “Parents Power,” a support group for parents with disabilities and their children. They also supply a carer’s information pack, a quarterly newsletter and benefits advice.
Carers Support Service Regis, Chichester and Rural
Web: www.carerssupportservice.org.uk
Tel: 01243 537011
Carers Support Service Regis, Chichester and Rural covers the western part of West Sussex.
Our services include:
- Information on local services for carers as well as a Helpline to information and support
- A free quarterly Newsletter and Carers Information Pack
- Emotional Support for carers with a telephone call back service
- Complementary Therapy and Counselling services
- Regular social, training and information events for carers
- We administer a local Short Break for Carers Fund
- A dedicated support worker for carers caring for adults with a learning difficulty
- Support workers for carers caring for adults of working age with a mental health difficulty
We are affiliated to the Princes Royal Trust for Carers and Carers UK and are working with the Experts Patients Programme to deliver the 'Caring with Confidence’ programme locally.
Carers UK
Web: www.carersuk.org
Tel: 0808 808 7777 (CarersLine)
Carers UK is the voice of carers. Carers provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner. Carers give so much to society yet as a consequence of caring, they experience ill health, poverty and discrimination. Carers UK is an organisation of carers fighting to end this injustice.
Carers UK improves carers' lives by:
- campaigning for the changes that make a real difference for carers
- providing information and advice to carers about their rights and how to get support
- mobilising carers and supporters to influence decision-makers
- gathering hard evidence about what needs to change
- transforming the understanding of caring so that carers are valued and not discriminated against.
Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC)
Web: www.cornwallrcc.co.uk/carers
Cornwall Rural Community Council is a registered charity operating throughout Cornwall. They provide:
The Carers’ Support Service: offering advice, information and support to people caring for someone who may be frail, elderly, physically disabled or have a learning disability.
Tel: 01872 243 531
The Cornwall Young Carers Project: working with young people who, in most cases are recognised as the main carer. They ensure they receive the most appropriate support for their individual circumstances and activities are also arranged giving them respite opportunities and social interaction with young people in a similar situation.
Tel: 01209 614 956
Counselling Directory
Web: www.counselling-directory.org.uk
The Counselling Directory website provides a UK wide counselling support network, enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. This is a free, confidential service that encourages those in distress to seek help. The website also contains a number of sections on emotional disorders (types of distress section) and information on each consellor's training and experience, areas of counselling covered, fees and contact details.
Crossroads Caring for Carers
Tel: 0845 450 0350
Crossroads Caring for Carers has over 30 years experience of providing practical support services for carers and the people they are supporting. The key purpose of Crossroads Caring for Carers is to ensure that carers can have a break so services aim to be flexible and respond to individual situations. The services are of dual value - emotional support and a break for the carer, and a high-quality tailored service for the person they are supporting. Delivered through a network of local schemes in England, services may vary according to local need.
Every Crossroads Caring for Carers scheme is a member of Crossroads Association - the umbrella body for the network. The Association provides comprehensive policy and quality frameworks, as well as advice and guidance for local schemes and in addition works nationally with partners in the statutory and voluntary sectors to raise awareness of the needs of carers and contribute to policy development.
Disability Recreation Unity Movement (DRUM) Watford
Web: www.drum.ik.com
Tel: 01923 442 114
The DRUM is a small registered charity, based in Watford, providing day services, activities and help for nearly 70 adults with physical and/or sensory disabilities. They also support over 100 carers. Over a third of their members rely on personal care and the DRUM provides a regular day break for these carers with the option to attend any of their activity sessions, social events or day trips. The Carer Support sessions are held every 4-6 weeks and include free training, information and yoga classes. They also provide an opportunity for carers to meet others, develop friendships, share information, ideas and life experiences.