Carers and young carers helplines
Gov UK – Caring for someoneCarers resourcesGives details of services and benefits for UK carers.
Citizens Advice Scotland – Carers Help & Support
Carers UKHelpline: 0808 808 7777www.carersuk.org
Carers UK provides information and advice to people who provide unpaid support to their relatives, partners or friends who are chronically ill, disabled or frail.
Carers Trust
Head Office: Tel: 0300 772 9600www.carers.org
Carers Trust operates the largest UK-wide network of local carer organisations. Our Network Partners specialise in promoting the wellbeing of unpaid carers and providing them with information, advice and support specific to their city or region. Our objectives are that no carer is pushed into poverty or is financially disadvantaged by their caring role. Every carer has access to a high-quality local carer organisation.
Age UK
Helpline: 0800 678 1602
Looking after yourself as a carer
We believe that age needs respect. It needs kindness. Sometimes it needs help. Because there is strength in numbers, Age Concern and Help the Aged have joined forces to become Age UK – so that we can be here for everyone in later life. Age UK aims to improve later life for everyone through our information and advice, services, campaigns, products, training and research.
Care Rights UK
Helpline: 020 7359 8136
We are the charity focused on defending the rights of people in care. We want people to know their rights and how to use them. We offer information, advice and support to empower people using care services, and their relatives and friends. As a community of families and experts, we have joined forces to fight for better lives for people in care. We challenge poor care, highlight good practice and demand a better care system.
Young Carers
NHS
If you are aged 13-19 and you care for someone else there find out more about people who can support you.
Carers Trust
Head Office: Tel: 0300 772 9600www.carers.org
There are lots of organisations that can help you if you are a young carer or young adult carer. Carers Trust is one of them. Carers Trust runs a network of local carer organisations in England, Scotland and Wales. They offer information, advice, practical support and/or care in the home to unpaid carers of all ages. Many of these local carer organisations in our Network have dedicated services for young carers and young adult carers.
Action for Children
Sidekick – Confidential texting service
We can’t take away a parent’s illness, but we can give young carers a break. Our services help young people balance caring with being a child. Young carers take on physical and emotional duties that adults usually handle. It can feel scary and isolating. Our support helps young carers come to terms with their parent's or other family member’s illness or condition. We teach them how to cope, and guide them to build positive relationships outside the family. We help young carers plan for the future, by making sure they can access adult services when they’re 18.
Barnardos
Barnardo’s runs 15 services across the UK which work to support young carers and their families in a variety of ways: Helping the family to find the support they need, and are entitled to, from local services, so that a child’s caring responsibilities can be reduced. Supporting young carers to use local services such as sports clubs, support groups, and health centres. Providing advice and emotional support through counselling and drop-in sessions. Liaising with schools so that teachers can better support their students. Providing opportunities for young carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities, spend time with other young carers and share experiences and providing opportunities for young carers to learn more about their parent’s illness or disability.
The Children’s Society
Find young carers services in your area
We provide specialist support that empowers young people to make positive changes and rediscover their hope. They want a future they can look forward to and we’re here to make sure they get it. Our Include service helps young carers, families and those who work with them. We want you to be healthy, happy and focused on the future. We know caring for someone can be difficult but you need to make time for yourself as well. We can help you understand your rights as a young carer, introduce you to other young carers, advise you on different ways into education and employment.
ChildLine
Helpline: 0800 11 11
ChildLine is a counselling service for children and young people. You can contact ChildLine in these ways: You can phone on 0800 1111, send us an email, have a 1-2-1 chat with us, send a message to Ask Sam and you can post messages to the ChildLine message boards. You can contact ChildLine about anything - no problem is too big or too small. If you are feeling scared or out of control or just want to talk to someone you can contact
ChildLine.
The Mix
Whether you’re 13, 25, or any age in between, we’re here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don’t-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts you have. We give you the information and support you need to deal with it all. Because you can. Because you’re awesome. We’ll connect you to experts and your peers who’ll give you the support and tools you need to take on any challenge you’re facing. We’re a free and confidential multi-channel service. That means that you choose how you access our support, without the worry of anyone else finding out.
Young Minds
Parent’s Helpline: 0808 802 5544
We’re leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever the challenges. As a young carer you can find helping someone very rewarding, but you also have the right to be looked after. Find out what young carers do, how to spot if it’s getting too much and what to do about it.
The Honeypot
Since 1996 Honeypot has been working to enhance the lives of vulnerable children and young carers aged 5-12 years by providing respite breaks and on-going outreach support. We give young carers a break from demanding and stressful responsibilities at home and provide a safe, nurturing environment where children at risk can develop their full potential. Before a child begins their relationship with Honeypot the first stage is a referral from someone already working with a child in need: a school, social worker, doctor, health visitor, community organisation or young carer support group. We discuss the child’s case and a home visit is then arranged with the child and their family.