Are you a carer?
A carer is anyone who provides support to a partner, family member, friend or neighbour who may be ill or disabled and could not manage without this help.
Some carer facts
40% of carers experience stress, depression or some other form of mental health problem.
Sheffield has almost 60,000 carers in a population of 600,000. That’s 1 in 10 of the population.
3 in 5 people will become a carer at some point in their lives.
Being a carer can be rewarding but it’s also very hard work. Caring is a stressful role and it’s important to think about your mental and physical health as well as that of the person you care for.
Where to find support
Sheffield Carers Centre is here to support you. The centre provides information, advice and support for any adult carer, irrespective of the condition of the cared-for person.
The services offered by the Centre include:
- A Carers Advice line offering free and confidential information about any aspect of caring, or just a friendly listening ear. The service is available Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm by ringing 0114 272 8362.
- Drop-in advice at the Centre’s premises at Concept House, Young Street every Wednesday 10am – 12 noon.
- Carers Needs Assessments – this is a discussion between you the carer and a Carer Advisor about all aspects of your caring and how it affects other areas of your life – work, study and social life.
- Let’s Talk About… these are information sessions on topics such as Food and Mood, Fire Safety and Money at a variety of locations around the city.
- Counselling – an opportunity to you to talk in complete confidence to someone outside your immediate family and friends.
- Legal advice – a free half hour of advice from a solicitor from Wrigleys covering all matters of personal law e.g. wills, power of attorney and protective trusts.
- Employment support – specialist support around returning to work after caring or combining caring and paid work.
- Benefits and financial advice.
- In Safe Hands – help to plan what would happen to the person you care for, if you were unable to care for them for a short time because of an emergency or accident.
- Time for a Break – help to find ways of getting a break from caring, whether going away, or finding some ‘me time’ to pursue a hobby or sport, a spa treatment or a perhaps a trip to the cinema.
- A monthly Carers Café held at a city centre location.
- A monthly mental health hub at which carers of people with mental health problems can meet and share experiences.
- Telephone Linkline for isolated carers who receive a fortnightly call from a Carers Centre volunteer.
- A free newsletter four times a year – by email or post.
- A website at www.sheffieldcarers.org.uk.
- Social media – Facebook and Twitter.
Other carer support in the city
Find out about other support provided in the city for carers, for example from Sheffield MIND, Mencap’s Sharing Caring Project and Sheffield Young Carers by clicking on the ‘view all services’ button below.
National support
Support is also available nationally from Carer’s UK and the NHS. Carers UK www.carersuk.org or call 0808 808 7777
NHS Carers Direct www.nhs.uk/carersdirect or call 0300 123 1053
Your GP needs to know so you can be offered the right information, support and access to services. GP surgeries have to compile information for the government about the numbers of carers attached to the surgery so your information will help them to do this.
There is more information about help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability on the NHS website.
