Carers Support

Services you can get in contact with for support +

	CPFT Eating Disorders Online Carers Support Group - When the country went into lockdown, CPFT arranged to replace the monthly Eating Disorder Carers Support Group with a weekly online meeting to provide support and advice. You can read their previous summaries here : Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 and Book 4. CPFT Carers Support - The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust has information and support for carers and young carers which you can view here.

	Family Voice - We are a local registered charity in Peterborough who are actively seeking to improve services in all areas of the lives of children and young people with disabilities or additional needs. We are here for Parents and Carers of children and young people aged 0—25 years with a disability or additional needs. We aim to work together with professionals and parents so that the services for our children and young people meet their needs. Putting parent carers and their children at the centre and helping them to be heard.

	Carers UK Helpline - Call 0800 808 7777, Helpline open: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.

	Carers Trust - We work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. We do this with a UK wide network of quality assured independent partners and through the provision of grants to help carers get the extra help they need to live their own lives.

	Rethink Mental Illness and Rethink Carers Support - Rethink Mental Illness was established by carers over 40 years ago and carers continue to play a key role at every level within our organisation. Supporting carers and giving them and those they care for a voice in every aspect of mental health provision is a key aim for us. Rethink provides a range of services nationally for carers and those they care for. Its website provides a lot of information and advice on every aspect of being a carer. Its advice line on 0300 5000 927 is open Mondays to Fridays from 9.30am – 1.00pm. For more information about what Rethink offer, please click here.

	Making Space - We provide services in the heart of local communities, in the comfort of people’s own homes, and specialist care and support services. Our professional, caring employees and volunteers deliver our services with dignity, respect and compassion, focusing on outcomes that help the people we support have the freedom to enjoy an everyday life. View the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough leaflet here.

	PinPoint - Helping Cambridgeshire parents who have children with additional needs and disabilities. Pinpoint Cambridgeshire is run for parents – by parents. We give help and information to parent carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with additional needs and disabilities, and give parent carers opportunities to have a say and get involved in improving local services.

	Caring Together - Caring Together provide information and advice, run services in local communities and campaign so that carers have choices. If you look after a family member or friend find out more by calling them on 0345 241 0954, emailing hello@caringtogether.org or visiting caringtogether.org

If you are caring for someone with OCD:

	Cambridge OCD Support Group - This group is open to people with OCD and their family, carers, and friends.The group meets on the first Monday of every month from 7pm-8.30pm. Bath house Mill Rd. For more information please contact: ocdcambridge@gmail.com or call 0303 040 1112 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).

	The OCD Action website has a dedicated page for carers

	OCD UK has a dedicated section for Families

	The Mind website has good practical advice

	The International OCD Foundation also has good advice

	The NHS website has some information for people with OCD

	Two books that cover topics helpful to a caregiver. When a Family Member Has OCD: Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Skills to Help Families Affected by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by Jon Hershfield, 2016 Loving Someone with OCD: Help for You and Your Family by Karen J Landsman, 2005

Young people in caring roles who would like advice or support can contact one of the following services +

	Centre 33 – Young Carers Project Cambridge City - Centre 33 offers support to Young Carers across Cambridgeshire for information and referrals please visit Centre 33 or contact: Kate Rees Tel: 01223 307488 E-mail: youngcarers@centre33.org.uk

	Ormiston Trust Young Carers Project Fenland - Tel: 01945 463337 E-mail: joy.stoner@ormiston.org please visit Ormiston Trust

	Cambridgeshire County Council Young Carer support - Please visit the Young Carers page on the County Council website for the most up to date information. For a Young Carers Needs Assessment email youngcarers@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

What benefits can carers get? +

Knowing what benefits you and the person you care for are entitled to can make a real difference.

For example, you might be able to get a break from caring, or get help with pay for certain costs, or make a difference to your pension entitlements in the future.

There are three main types of benefits:

Benefits if you're not in paid employment – "earnings replacement benefits".
Benefits that help pay for extra costs, such as those relating to disability or having a child.
Benefits and tax credits that top up low income if you're in work – "means-tested benefits"

Carer's Allowance, an earnings replacement benefit, is the main benefit for carers. You may be eligible if you are looking after someone for 35 hours a week or more.

For more information on what benefits you can get as a carer click the link below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support/benefits-for-carers/

*Some information gathered from www.nhs.uk and the services listed.