Who is a Carer?

A Carer can be a partner, parent, friend or relative. Carers provide unpaid care and support to a relative or friend who cannot manage without support. Carers can be any age and come from all backgrounds and communities. Durham & Chester-le-Street Carers Support recognise and works to raise awareness of the importance of that role of informal caring to the community. We offer a range of support, advice and information together with a listening ear to people undertaking that role.

Who are Durham & Chester-le-Street Carers Support?

To support the needs of Carers/Parents in the districts of Durham & Chester-le-Street an independent charitable organisation has been developed. The delivery of our service is based totally on the needs of the Carers and Parents we support. To ensure that this ethos is sustained, the Trustees that over sees our organisation has a membership of which the majority are Carers / Parents. Funding has been received from a range of different sources which includes Durham County Council and Durham & Chester-le-Street NHS Primary Care Trust. The service is available to Carers, Ex-Carers and those working with Carers in the district of Durham & Chester-le-Street.

Why are Carers important?

Caring for someone can be physically exhausting and emotionally stressful. Carers may find their own health affected by their responsibilities.

Carers devote large parts of their own lives to the lives of others – not as part of a job, but voluntarily. And often in addition to working themselves. For the sick, the frail, the vulnerable and the elderly, Carers provide help and support in ways which might otherwise not be available. By their effort, their patience, their knowledge, their understanding, their companionship, their determination and their compassion, Carers very often transform the lives of the people they’re caring for – even if the difficulties they’re grappling with still remain. Carers are among the unsung heroes of British life.

Who Cares about Carers?

Durham & Chester-le-Street Carers Support offer a range of services including:

A listening ear so that Carers can express how they feel.
Specialist advice and access to information regarding avaiable services.
Assistance in gaining appropriate services for Carers.
Supporting Carers at formal and informal meetings.
Home visits offering support and information.
Training such as First Aid, basic computing, stress management etc.
A range of social and recreational opportunities. For example, regular information sessions, lunches, excursions, shopping trips, holidays.
Holistic Therapy sessions for individual Carers.
Benefits advice & assistance with applications.
Access to short breaks
Setting up, facilitating and offering practical assistance to other Carer Support Groups.
Ensuring Carers have a voice in how new and existing services are developed.
Working in partnership with other agencies to enhance support for Carers.

Carers Assessments

Carers Assessments are one way to access more support for you and the person you care for. We regularly support Carers to access this process through our links with Social Care & Health. Further details of Carers Assessment are available within this website.

Contact Details

Tel: 0191 387 1991

Fax: 0191 387 1970

Email: info@dccarers.org

Disclaimer:

Every effort is made to ensure that the information on this website is correct. Durham & Chester-le-Street Carers Support can accept no liability for errors and/or ommissions and can not recommend products or services. Views and opinions expressed on this website do not necessarily reflect those of Durham & Chester-le-Street Carers Support.

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