Support for carers

What makes you a carer?

A carer is anyone who provides unpaid care for a family member or friend who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem, or an addiction, can't cope without their support.

People who provide unpaid care and support to others view themselves as doing what anyone else would do for a loved one, rather than seeing themselves as carers. Although there are many positive and rewarding aspects to caring, there are lots of reasons why the experience can also leave the carer needing support.

If you're a carer

If you're one of these carers, there's considerable advice and support available to you. You can get help to look after your own health and well-being so you have time to enjoy social activities, work, or educational opportunities alongside your caring role.

It’s important to think about how the care and support you provide affect your well-being and what could make things better for you and the person you look after.

Local help and support

Carers in Bedfordshire is a registered charity which works with us to help carers. It offers assistance and practical help, advice, support groups, befriending services, education and employment guidance, benefits advice, training, advocacy, support, and information. Carers in Bedfordshire has produced a number of helpful guides for carers.

Mobilise works with us to support carers with a range of free online services. This includes email support, online guides and tools, and telephone support. Carers can also access one-to-one coaching with Mobilise for support with getting back into employment.

Advice Central provides free and confidential guidance on various topics, including disability, health and care, and education. The Advice Central Team is based in the Disability Resource Centre and is trained to help you quickly get the help and advice you need. To access Advice Central, you can either call 0300 303 6666 or make an online enquiry.

You can also contact one of three Citizens Advice organisations in Central Bedfordshire:

• Citizens Advice Dunstable
• Citizens Advice Mid Beds
• Citizens Advice Leighton Linslade

Mencap is the leading voice of learning disability. Everything Mencap does is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.

Scope provides information and support whether you, your child, or those you work with have a physical impairment, learning disability, or any other condition. The website contains a range of useful information including a forum for parents/carers of disabled children, which provides advice about caring for disabled children, providing help and reassurance.

AccessAble provides information about disability access for various locations in Central Bedfordshire.

Be Positive has dedicated mentors and teachers to help people understand and overcome the challenges of finding work. The service offers free courses on a range of topics.

Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy supports people to access education and training to build the skills that will support employability, career opportunities, and improve well-being.

Richmond Fellowship - Bedfordshire Employment Service – specialises in providing support for people living with or recovering from mental ill health. The service offers one-to-one support, careers advice, and help with CV writing and interview preparation.

You can call our Carers' Helpline on 0300 300 8036.

Village Care and Good Neighbour Schemes

Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) runs Good Neighbour and Village Care Schemes that provide easy access to help and support, acting as a safety net for everyone in a town or village, regardless of age. They can help to lessen the impact on a community caused by the decline in services and facilities such as public transport, shops, Post Offices, doctors' surgeries, and pubs. They can also help to reduce feelings of isolation and exclusion experienced by some individuals if families and friends move away in the search for employment, education, or affordable housing.

Having access to the services of a care scheme can extend the length of time people are able to remain living independently in their own home.

Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity also provides Village Agents who can provide face-to-face information and support to enable individuals to make informed choices about their future needs.

Support for carers of someone with dementia

For more information on dementia, visit our dementia page.

Carers in Bedfordshire’s Memory Navigation Service is the first place to contact for people impacted by dementia or memory loss in Central Bedfordshire. The service helps people affected by dementia or memory loss to find the right information, services, or support that they need. The service provides practical, financial, and emotional support, including a befriending service, access to a fully trained Dementia Nurse, carers grants, and groups and events run in partnership with Tibbs Dementia Foundation.

Support for carers of children with disabilities

Find out how we help carers of children with disabilities.

National Support

Carers Trust can help you to maintain your own health and well-being, make your needs and voice heard, and provide someone to talk to. They also run play and support schemes for young carers.

Carers UK provides expert telephone advice and support services, champions your rights, and helps you find new ways to manage.

Care for carers provides information about benefits, health trainer services, anti-bullying websites, and adult education.

Carers Direct Helpline - you can 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.

NHS Choices guide to care and support has a guide for carers about the carers assessment and what care and support services you might get.