Support for carers
Support for carers
A carer is someone who provides unpaid help and support to a family member, parent, friend, partner, child or neighbour who could not manage without their help. This applies to children, young carers and adults looking after an adult.
There are a range of services that help, advise and support carers who care for someone living in Newcastle. You can contact them directly, at any time and without the need for an assessment from the council.
Local information, help and support
Newcastle Carers is a local independent charity. They work in partnership with the NHS and the council. They support adults, children and young people who care for someone living n Newcastle. Their free, confidential and impartial service provides dedicated support and information to carers of all ages including:
- one to one information and support
- group support
- training
- carers wellbeing fund
- individual and group support for young carers aged 18 to 25 years
- advice for the families of young carers
- dementia support and information
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Address: 135 to139 Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1DN
You can call the confidential Information Line, Monday to Friday from 1pm to 5pm.
Newcastle Carers also work in other places across the city. Contact them to book an appointment outside office hours.
Telephone: 0191 275 5060
SMS: 0787 4100043
Email: info@newcastlecarers.org.uk
If the person you care for lives outside of Newcastle you can find support in your area on the Carers Trust website.
Carers wellbeing fund
If you are an adult caring for someone who lives in Newcastle, the Carers Wellbeing Fund, managed by Newcastle Carers, may be able to provide a small grant to help you improve your health and wellbeing. It can be used to pay for things such as:
- a holiday or weekend break in the UK
- college course fees, books or equipment
- gym membership, exercise classes, swimming sessions
- driving lessons
- buying items for an activity or hobby such as a tent or a bicycle
- household items such as a washing machine, a cooker or a fridge
- garden maintenance
Planning for emergencies
You don't always know will happen.
The Carers Emergency Contact Scheme is for adults, caring for adults. It’s a free service, so the person you care for can be looked after if you have a personal crisis such as, an illness, accident or emergency. Your plan is kept safe and available in an emergency. You are given:
- help to write your emergency contact plan so they know what support the person you care for needs.
- a card to carry so other people and emergency services, know you’re a carer and someone relies on you
In an emergency, your plan can be put into action. Even if you already have an emergency plan with a friend, relative or neighbour, it’s a good idea to register online for the Carers Emergency Card Scheme.
British Red Cross run the scheme which is funded by Newcastle City Council
Telephone: 0191 273 7961
Email: Carerscard_Northeast@redcross.org.uk
Young people and children
Newcastle Carers runs support groups for carers, offering a chance to take a needed break, meet people in similar situations who can understand and get helpful information.
Ask about support for young carers, including to study, work or participate in an apprenticeship.
Action for Children supports young carers with respite and breaks.
Support for carers of people with drug and alcohol problems
PROPS North East supports families and friends affected by a loved one’s drug or alcohol misuse across Newcastle and North Tyneside. PROPS offer :
- one to one support
- peer support groups
- training around substance misuse and family training
- respite breaks
- an emergency out of hours telephone helpline.
Telephone: 0191 226 3440
Email: office@newcastleprops.org.uk
Benefits and debt advice
Newcastle Welfare Rights Service gives benefits and debt advice to carers. Contact them for:
- benefits advice Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12 noon. Telephone: 0191 277 2627
- debt advice on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.30am to 11.30am. Telephone: 0191 277 1050
National support for carers
Carers UK gives carers expert advice, information and support.
Open: Monday and Tuesday, 10am to 4pm
Telephone: 0808 808 777
NHS have a list of all national telephone support and helplines for carers.
Carers’ Trust charity work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring. Email: support@carers.org
Carers Direct (NHS) can give information and advice on your caring role. You can talk to them about what options are available to you using webchat or by email.
Helpline and webchat open: Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm and weekends, 11am to 4pm. Translators are available if you ask.
Telephone: 0300 123 1053
Carers Week
Carers week takes place in June each year. Led by Carers UK, a coalition of organisations run a campaign to raise awareness about caring because it is tough to care on your own. The purpose of the campaign is to ensure that we all tell someone about how to recognise a carer - and remember this can be a young child or young adult too - and alert them to the organisations that can help them at any time. All our local organisations are listed above on this page.
There is a different theme each year, but the aim is to make caring visible and you can get involved by pledging your support for carers as a member of the public, representing an organisation or employer or education establishment or if you work for the NHS.
Find events and activities for Carers on the InformationNOW.
Useful information for carers
InformationNOW is part of adult social care and has more information on support available in the city. You may find these pages useful
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