Do you look after someone because of illness, disability or frailty? You are not alone. There are an estimated 34,000 carers living in Northumberland. Carers can have a very challenging, often isolating, lifestyle with little recognition or financial reward. You may look after a husband, wife, partner, child, parent, another relative or a neighbour or friend. You probably don’t stop to think about your own needs as you are so busy with everything else you do on a daily basis. Carers Northumberland is a charity dedicated to improving the lives of carers by responding to the needs of carers, informing carers of their rights and entitlements, supporting carers to access support for the person they care for, reducing the social isolation that so many carers feel and empowering carers to have a voice.
0844 800 7354 info@carersnorthumberland.org.uk About UsAbout Carers Northumberland Carers Northumberland is a charity and company limited by guarantee. We have a main office base at Ashington, near Morpeth, with outreach offices in Belford and Hexham, where our Carer Support Workers are based. Our mission is to improve the lives of carers in Northumberland by providing: a range of carer support services tailored to meet identified carer needs across the county, including 1:1 support, groups and social activities a comprehensive, centralised information and signposting service which includes regular newsletters and a dedicated telephone information service for carers and professionals design and delivery of skills development packages to carers and professional groups creation and development of partnerships and networks between appropriate agencies and companies to ensure delivery of comprehensive, seamless carer support services establishment and maintenance of an independent carer voice to appropriately influence and frame social and health policy throughout the county positive and responsible promotion of carer rights What Carers Northumberland Can Offer You The range of support that Carers Northumberland may be able to offer includes (click on the links for further information); Someone to talk with you individually and listen to you in confidence Opportunities to meet other people in similar situations Regular carer support groups held in various locations across the county Outreach activities and events Information service Continued support when caring ends Training opportunities to help cope with caring responsibilities Small grants from the Carers Support Fund towards a break from caring Regular newsletters An independent voice to reflect carer concerns and issues Accessing support from Carers Northumberland Local Carer Support Groups Depending on where you live in the county there may be a regular Support Group that you can join. These groups offer the opportunity to meet and chat with others in similar circumstances and to have a short break from your caring responsibilities. We currently have groups meeting in Berwick, Cornhill, Wooler, Belford, Alnwick, Amble, Felton, Rothbury, Ashington, Bedlington, Cramlington, Morpeth, Ponteland, Prudhoe, Bellingham, Hexham and Haltwhistle. For more information about where and when each group meets, contact us on 0844 800 7354. [Top of page] Outreach Activities and Events Carers Northumberland has a programme of activities and events planned throughout Northumberland in 2011.
Carers Northumberland Information Service You can contact us by e-mail or telephone and we will take the time to answer your questions. Typical queries include subjects such as national carers' issues, legislation affecting carers, welfare rights, leisure breaks and carer benefits such as ticket discounts for travel etc. We also hold a comprehensive library of carer-related books, DVDs and leaflets available to borrow. Our Information Line is open Monday-Friday from 10.00am - 2.00pm, although you will generally be able to speak to a member of staff during office hours. We realise that it is not always practical for carers to telephone during these hours, especially if working, so the Iinformation Line is also open every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 5.30pm until 7.30pm. You can e-mail anytime at info@carersnorthumberland.org.uk Have you ever wondered what you would do if an emergency arose or you were taken ill in the middle of the night? Who would look after the person you care for? Carers Northumberland operates a scheme in partnership with the British Red Cross that is designed to give you peace of mind that you have a plan in place should you need it in an emergency. Call Carers Northumberland on 0844 800 7354 to learn more about, and subscribe to, the scheme.
Support when your caring responsibilities have ended Perhaps the person you care for has moved into residential care or has died. Carers Northumberland continues to support carers even when caring responsibilities come to an end. When caring ends, Carers Northumberland offers: Someone to listen to you Someone to talk through your feelings and emotions Someone to help you adjust to your changed circumstances Someone to put you in contact with other people and activities for your future Breaks for former carers [Top of page] Training opportunities to help cope with caring responsibilities Carers Northumberland has a prgramme of skills sessions designed to help you in your caring role. You can attend any or all of these, depending on your availability and how much support you feel you need. If you find it difficult to leave the person you care for to attend these, please contact us and we may be able to help you. [Top of page]
Support to help carers and former carers take a break Carers have told us that what makes a huge difference to them is being able to take a break from their caring responsibilities, where this is practically possible. To help carers achieve this, Northumberland Care Trust makes available a part of the Carers Grant to be awarded as funding to carers in the county; this is the Carers Support Fund. Carers submit a brief application form and will receive between £25-£150 to be spent on something that gives them a break. Carers Northumberland staff can help carers decide how best to spend the money to take a break. Some examples of how carers have used the fund are: to enjoy a night at the cinema
Carers Northumberland Newsletters Carers Northumberland keeps carers informed of local and national issues and activities that might affect them and this information is distributed quarterly. Current and previous editions of the Carers Northumberland newsletter can be found by visiting the news section of this website. Carer Involvement Carer Reference Groups Carers Northumberland provides opportunities for carers to have a say about issues that affect them. At a local level and beyond, we encourage carers to get involved and inform those that make decisions impacting on carers. We will send information to carers registered with Carers Northumberland if there is a topic or an issue that will affect carers, inviting them to get involved in the discussions. Carers can get involved by coming to organised meetings and discussion groups or by sending us their thoughts. Volunteering opportunities Carers Northumberland can also offer volunteering opportunities: from becoming a member of the Trustee Board, helping with organisational activity or even getting involved in organising social events or fundraising. For further information regarding volunteering opportunities please contact us on 0844 800 7354. When caring comes to an end Carers Northumberland continues to support carers even when caring responsibilities come to an end. Perhaps the person being cared for has to go into residential care or has died. In a post caring situation Carers Northumberland can provide : Someone to listen to you Someone to talk through your feelings and emotions Someone to help you adjust to your different circumstances Someone to put you in contact with other people and activities for your future If your caring role has recently come to an end contact us so we can talk about what we can do to support you. You can contact us either by telephone on 0844 800 7354 or by e mail : info@carersnorthumberland.org.uk Carers Northumberland Information Service "If only someone could have told me about my rights as a carer..." Carers Northumberland Information line E Mail: info@carersnorthumberland.org.uk We realise that it is not always practical for carers to telephone during these hours, especially if you are working and so the telephone information line is also open every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 5.30pm until 7.30pm. Carers and professionals can also e mail enquiries to info@carersnorthumberland.org.uk Getting Involved Carer Reference Groups Carers Northumberland provides opportunities for carers to have a say about issues that affect them. This might be at a local level or beyond, and we encourage carers to get involved and inform those that make decisions affecting carers. We send information to carers registered with Carers Northumberland if there is a topic or an issue that will affect carers and invite them to contribute to discussions. This can be by attending organised meetings and discussion groups or by emailing, mailing or telephoning their thoughts and ideas . Volunteering opportunities Carers Northumberland can also offer different volunteering opportunities from becoming a member of the Trustee Board, helping with organisational activity or even getting involved in organising social events or fundraising. For further information regarding volunteering opportunities please Contact Us Carers Northumberland’s central office is based at Ashington: Carers Northumberland Tel 01670 518204 We also have support staff in offices around the county: South East Office Tel 01670 320019 North Office Tel 01668 219951 West Office Tel 01434 608033
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