Who Caring with Confidence is aimed at FAQs
Q Can any carer get involved?
A Yes. The only requirements are:
you provide unpaid care to someone (e.g. a friend, relative or neighbour)
- you are aged 18 and over
- you live in England
- You do not have to be a full time carer – you could provide a couple of hours of care a week or you could care for someone 24/7. All carers can benefit from the programme regardless of how long you have been a carer or how much time you spend caring.
Q Why can’t young carers (those under 18 looking after a parent or sibling) get involved?
A Caring with Confidence has been designed in such a way that helps support adults who have a caring responsibility. Support for Young Carers should ensure that they have the same opportunities as other young people in the community. Appropriate levels of services should be provided to the family to ensure that any inappropriate caring roles are removed.
Support through Young Carers projects include opportunities to meet other young people and to access emotional and practical support and it is felt that these forms of support are more appropriate to the needs of young people.
Q Who is Caring with Confidence aimed at?
A The programme is available to any carer over the age of 18 in England. However, the Department of Health has identified a number of target groups. So, to begin with, at least one third of the total number of carers through the programme shall be those:
- in receipt of Carers Allowance (or care for 35 hours per week or more)
- of black and minority ethnic heritage
- who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
At least a further third of the total number of carers shall be carers of:
- disabled children or adults who have complex needs
- people of black and minority ethnic heritage
- people living with mental ill-health
- people with dementia
- people with long-term conditions
- people nearing the end of life
- people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
The remaining third can be any adult carer.
Q Why is the programme only available to carers in England?
A As funding for the programme comes from the Department of Health (DH) we can only support carers who live in England as the DH only has responsibility for public health in this country.