Are you a carer? Find out more about the support available from your local carers organisations
I’m Jess Inglis and part of my job as a Student Adviser at Sheffield Hallam University is to provide a point of contact for students with caring responsibilities. I recently attended Sheffield Carers Centre’s 20th Birthday Event at Sheffield Town Hall to learn more about how local carers’ organisations can help people cope with their caring roles.
At the event there was a panel of guest speakers who had used Sheffield Carers Centre’s services over the years. All the speakers described how they had come to care for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction could not cope without their help.
They spoke about not knowing if they really were a carer, or if they wanted to talk to other people about their personal circumstances. Some felt guilty when thinking about getting help for themselves, or they were worried about how the person they cared for would react.
Asking for help was a big decision. One woman in her early 30s told us how she had spent 6 years caring for her husband when by chance she came across a leaflet about Sheffield Carers Centre one day. She picked up the leaflet, took it home and put it in her beside drawer. It took her 3 months to get round to reading it. Then when she was having a particularly bad week she took the leaflet with her to work. She spent two days staring at it on her desk, before plucking up the courage to give the Carers Support and Information Service a call.
Rony Robinson from BBC Radio Sheffield and members of the Carers Panel at the Birthday Event
All the carers on the panel spoke passionately about the difference that contacting Sheffield Carers Centre had made to their lives. Having often felt isolated and lonely in their caring role, they all said what a relief it was to meet other carers who understood the challenges they were facing. They also spoke about the important role played by Sheffield Carers Centre staff in listening to and understanding their needs and providing practical advice on social services, respite care, benefits and legal issues.
More information about Sheffield Carers Centre can be found on the Carers in Sheffield website, or you can phone the Carers Support and Information Service on 0114 272 8362.
If you are a student at Sheffield Hallam who has caring responsibilities, you can find out more about the support available to you on our Students who are carers page.
Q.What is a carer?
A. A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support
Q. What do carers do?
A. The tasks that a carer does can be diverse, but might include the following
- Practical household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing up, ironing, paying bills and financial management.
- Personal care such as bathing, dressing, lifting, administering medication and collecting prescriptions.
- Emotional support such as listening, offering advice and friendship.
Q. Is there support for younger carers?
A. Yes. Carers in Sheffield run a number of support groups for carers and a buddying scheme for carers in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Slightly differently from more traditional support groups, the buddying scheme is an opportunity to be in contact with other ‘younger adult carers’ and have someone to call, email or meet up with who recognises the pressures you are under.
If you’re aged 21 or under and live in Sheffield, you can also access support from Sheffield Young Carers Project. They offer group and one-to-one support, as well as trips and outings where you can have a break from your caring role. If you would like to find out more, you can check their website or phone 0114 258 4595.
Q. I don’t live in Sheffield. Can I still get help?
A. Yes there are carers organisations across the UK. You can search on the Carer’s Trust website to find your local carers service – http://www.carers.org/carers-services/find-your-local-service