Support for Unpaid Carers
Unpaid carers are the unsung heroes of our communities, providing extraordinary support to loved ones who need it most. They offer essential care and love to family and friends facing significant challenges, which, in conditions like FOP and POH can change daily.
At FOP Friends, we understand the profound impact of unpaid carers because we are carers ourselves. We witness firsthand the difference they make, offering both practical assistance and emotional support. We also recognise the significant stress and demands placed on carers, affecting their own well-being, family life, and relationships.
To support our wonderful carers, we’ve compiled a list of charities offering valuable resources, including support, advice, grants, and respite care.
If you are an unpaid carer, prioritising your own well-being is essential to maintaining your ability to care for your loved one. Remember, it’s okay to ask for help when things feel overwhelming. You’re not alone.
For additional resources on caring for your mental well-being, please visit: fopfriends.com/mental-wellbeing-for-all/
If you don’t receive any support for your caring role, if you need more help, or if you are unsure that what you are doing qualifies you as an unpaid carer, then you should first arrange a Carer’s Assessment.
Local authorities offer services and support for unpaid carers. They will complete a carer’s assessment to see what they can provide to best meet your needs.
Google your local authority to find out what is available in your area. You will need to contact your adult social care service. If you would like some support with this, please get in touch.
Click here to find your local adult social care service.
The Carer’s Assessment
As a parent carer in the UK, you have a right to a carer’s assessment at any time, even without a child’s formal diagnosis. It focuses entirely on your well-being, health, work, and education goals. Your local authority or trust could provide tailored support, from driving lessons and housework help to emotional support and short breaks.
The charity Contact have put together some helpful information and templates to help you. It’s a great place to start.
Visit: Contact a Family
This page on the NHS outlines what services and support they can provide for unpaid carers. It also explains the carer’s assessment process.
It explains who is defined as a ‘carer’ and gives suggestions about how to prepare for your assessment.
There are links to other organisations which also offer support. www.nhs.uk
For young carers, visit: NHS Young Carers
Young Carers
A young carer is any child or young person under 18 who helps look after a family memberwho has an illness, disability, mental health condition, or a struggle with substance misuse. Often, these amazing young people take on practical and emotional responsibilities that would usually be handled by an adult, balancing homework and friendships with extra duties at home.
If this sounds like your child, please know that you are not alone and there is support available.
In the UK, young carers have a legal right to a Young Carer’s Assessment through their local council, but don’t let the word “assessment” worry you – it isn’t a test at all! It is simply a friendly conversation to see how their caring role impacts things like schoolwork, health, and friendships, with the whole focus being on finding ways to take the pressure off your family so they can simply enjoy being a kid.
For young carers, visit: NHS Young Carers
The charity Carers First also has excellent advice: Young Carers
The Carers Trust is a UK-based charity which works to support and transform the lives of unpaid carers. They support both adult and young carers.
Their website has a wealth of information for carers about services, programmes, discounts and information for carers. There is also financial information and guidance to ensure carers are receiving the support to which they are entitled. There is also a page about how to apply for grants and funding.
Visit: www.carers.org
Many tourist attractions will allow the carer of a disabled person to visit for free.
Click here to learn more: www.carers.org/out-and-about/free-entry-for-carers-to-visitor-attractions
Carers UK offer advice and information for the UK, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
They offer expert information, advice and support. They over financial guidance as well as general advice, wellbeing guidance and a helpline.
Visit: www.carersuk.org
Choice Wellbeing CIC have created an easy-to-read first steps guide to looking after yourself. You need to look after you if you are going to care for them…
Download the guide here: Looking After YOU
Brave Parents is a charity that focuses on the well-being of parents caring for children with complex medical needs. They understand the immense pressure these parents face and offer self-care opportunities. They organise retreats, mindfulness classes, and local meetups for parents in the Essex. They also arrange vitrual meet-ups for all parents to attend.
They also distribute free “Brave Boxes” filled with treats and self-care items to nominated parents who need a little pick-me-up.
For further information, or to nominate someone for a Brave box, visit: braveparents.co.uk
Young carers are children who look after a friend or family member. These extra responsibilities add extra stress to a young person’s life and can mean they miss out on their own childhood.
The Children’s Society explains what a young carer is. They offer advice and guidance, and signpost to other services which can support the young person to ensure their additional responsibilities don’t miss out on their own opportunities.
The Children’s Society Young Carers
Your local social services can also offer a carer’s assessment for the young person. NHS Young Carers
Carers First recognise the challenges that being an unpaid carer can bring, so aim to make finding the right support and help for the carer easier.
They work mainly in the south-east area, but their website is helpful and informative for anyone in the UK.
www.carersfirst.org.uk
Sibs is the charity for siblings of disabled children and adults.
They recognise that many siblings may have grown up, and into, a caring role and they have never known any different.
They have pulled together advice, guidance and signposts specifically for adult siblings, to ensure that they receive the care and support they need.
Visit: Sibs – Support for adult sibling carers
Family Fund recognises that caring for a child with additional needs can be very overwhelming.
They have put together some information and support, as well as signposts for families.
Visit: Family Fund
Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is a non-profit providing free education, peer support, and resources for family caregivers nationwide.
They are a US-based charity, but many of their resources may be of use to carers in the UK. They offer a help desk, online community, expert access, and tools, supporting caregivers facing diverse health challenges.
Visit: Carer Action Network
Caregiver Action Network (CAN) has created a helpful infographic for Family Carers.
Find it here: 10 Tips for Family Caregivers
Download a pdf here: Leaflet
Out and About
Forward Carers is an award-winning, not-for-profit, Community Interest Company and has been empowering unpaid Carers to live fulfilling lives since 2014.
They offer a range of carer services and programmes of work. They also produce a carer’s card, which carers can use to provide proof of status to gain discounts and entry to some attractions.
Visit: Forward Carers
There are a number of attractions around the UK which offer free or discounted tickets for one or two unpaid carers.
It is worth checking with the venue before you go to see if they offer this, and what proof they require.
Carers First has compiled a list of venues which offer free entry: Days Out
Revitalise is a national charity of 60 years and the leading UK provider of breaks and holidays for disabled people.
Their accessible holidays in the UK provide disabled people and carers with the respite break that they need, all completely catered for.
There is a charge for the breaks, but they are subsidised. There are also funds available for those who are not able to cover the costs. The team at Revitalise can advise on the options available depending on the circumstances of each individual.
Visit: www.revitalise.org.uk
