What is a Carer?

Carers look after family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability.  The care they provide is unpaid.  Parents of disabled children are also carers.  Carers may be children themselves, helping to care for a family member who needs support.  There are nearly 5.7 million carers in the UK.

What is Carers’ Support (Bexley)?

We are a registered charity whose purpose is to provide information, support and breaks for carers.We aim always to be flexible and helpful, rather than expect carers to fit in with us. Naturally, there are certain procedures we need to follow (mainly to ensure the quality of our service), but we don’t have rules for the sake of them. All our services are free of charge.

What help can we offer carers?

• A breaks service – volunteers who come into your home and take over the caring so that
  you can go out, or even go away overnight or for a holiday (see our page on “Breaks for
  Carers” for more details)
  
  
• A Carers Information Pack, providing information about services for carers in Bexley Borough
  
  
• A quarterly newsletter to keep you up-to-date with new services, benefits information and other news.
  
  
•  A worker who can visit you in your own home to talk through problems and help to identify sources of local help.
  
  
• Advice about welfare benefits and help with completing claim forms.
  
  
• Support groups where you can meet with other carers.
  
  
• An opportunity to have a say in local services through the Bexley Carers Network, an independent body of 15 carers, set up to represent the views of all carers in the borough.
  
  
• Volunteers who can offer emotional support and a listening ear for carers who are isolated.