Durham & Chester-le-Street Carers Support

Supported By:	Last Update June 2009 Carers Week 2009 This year, Carers Week will be about recognising and celebrating the contribution that the UK’s six million carers make to those they care for and their communities. Carers’ unpaid contribution is worth £87 billion each year to the UK. The media coverage this year will be highlighting 3 areas: The huge impact and contribution that Carers make is often unrecognised by society. Carers need and deserve access to better support and services. That recognition by professionals and by others who impact on Carers’ day to day lives can help make a massive difference. Locally, DCCS will be ensuring an awareness raising campaign is launched across the area and in the local media. The Carers’ Art Exhibition will be taking place again, this time at the Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley. We will be holding a celebration lunch with entertainment and inviting people to come on a Carers “Mystery Tour”. For more information on Carers Week, please visit www.carersweek.org 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.	Contact us: Durham & Chester-le-Street Carers Support Bullion Hall Bullion Lane Chester-le-Street County Durham DH2 2ES Tel: 0191 387 1991 Fax: 0191 387 1970 Email: info@dccarers.org Volunteers If you are interested in volunteering for our organisation please contact Christine Laskey our volunteer co-ordinator to discuss opportunities on 0191 387 1991 and/or click on the button above for more information.
	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	Donations You can donate to our service via Paypal. Its fast, free and secure, just click the icon above
	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.

	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.
	FundingCaring.co.uk: If you care for an elderly relative, are unable to look after yourself, or you support a disabled relative, this site explains the financial options open to you.
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