Carers Support

Action for Family Carers is an Essex charity, which for almost 30  years has been providing information and support to carers who have unpaid, caring responsibilities for others.

We are a Carers Trust Network Partner, Centre of Excellence and hold NCVO's PQASSO Level 3 Quality Mark. We provide information, befriending, counselling, volunteering opportunities and respite day care across the county,
working within schools and a variety of community settings.

Website : https://affc.org.uk/

Telephone: 0300 7 70 80 90

Local Support for Carers from EPUT

While caring for someone can be rewarding, there may be times when you find yourself dealing with difficult and stressful situations. You may feel that you are alone and that no-one can help. You may have feelings of confusion, guilt, loss, frustration and even anger.

https://eput.nhs.uk/get-involved/support-for-carers/

Local Support Counselling

We offer a free, confidential counselling service where Adult Carers can receive individual counselling sessions from qualified counsellors in Essex.

Counselling is a confidential talking therapy which gives you the opportunity to talk about your concerns, and any emotional difficulties you are experiencing with a counsellor. Sessions take place in a quiet, undisturbed and safe setting and may help you explore your situation and see things more clearly and gain more understanding of yourself. Counselling can also provide extra support outside of your network of family and friends.

https://affc.org.uk/services/adult-carers/counselling

Local Help for young people looking after someone

Looking after someone in your family can be rewarding, but it can also be difficult, and be especially hard for young people.

It may make things more difficult at school, mean you don't have time to go out with your friends, do homework, or do things you'd like to do. 

There is help available for young carers. The council can help suggest things that will make things easier for you, and help you continue to help your family.

https://www.livingwellessex.org/looking-after-someone/do-you-look-after-someone/

https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/essex/young-carers-essex

Do you look after someone who cannot manage without your support?

The surgery would like to know if you are a carer so we can support you further.

Please download and complete form below and hand to reception

Carer registration form

There are thousands of people in Essex who provide care to their loved ones; be it looking after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness, or who needs extra help as they grow older.

For helpful information, advice, links and much more click on the link below

 Carers' Information Booklet 2024.doc

The Carers Emergency Planning Service - can help

You would need to register for the scheme by completing the application form

Information and application form below or for more details contact 03330 135 1374

Carers Emergency Planning Service Info & Application

NHS Social Care & Support Guide

NHS Support & Benefits for Carers

Carers UK

Carers & Helpers Noticeboard

A central point of contact for support for unpaid carers 0300 303 9988   

Phonelines are open Monday to Friday 8am-7pm Saturday 9am-12pm       

        E: provide.essexwellbeing@nhs.net or https://essexwellbeingservice.co.uk/support/carers/

According to Carers UK 12,000 people become unpaid carers in the UK every day with many unaware of their legal rights and entitlements. ”Carers should not have to miss out on support designed to reduce some of the pressures caring can bring. Whether they care 24/7 or juggle care with work and family life, are new to caring or have been caring for many years, and wherever they live in the UK – all carers deserve to understand their rights and be supported to use them if they wish”. What are your legal rights as an Unpaid / Informal Carer?
• The right to 5 days unpaid Carer’s Leave per year
• The right to request flexible working from your employer
• The right to ask your GP practice to identify you as a Carer
• The right (and choice) to request a free flu jab
• The right to request a Carer’s Assessment
• The right to protection against discrimination or harassment for being a Carer
• The right to being consulted when the person you care for is discharged from hospital

Essex County Council has produced a leaflet offering practical information, guidance, adischarge checklist, plus a list of support services, to help unpaid carers through the hospital discharge process and once the person they look after returns home or to a residential care setting. This free guide will be launched on Carers Rights Day and will be available in all main Essex hospitals with an electronic version also available on the Council’s Support for Carers webpage

  Citizens Advice is partnering with Macmillan Cancer Support to provide a specialist welfare benefits advice service to people with a cancer diagnosis and their families. The service is able to help with:
• Understanding what benefits a person may be entitled to (eg. Universal Credit, PIP, Attendance Allowance etc)
• Explaining how benefits affect your finances (including help with managing changes in personal income, housing costs, or employment) • Completing benefit applications • Challenging benefit decisions
• Advising on grants and other financial support available (including Macmillan grants to help with extra costs like travel to hospital, heating, clothing, or special diets)
• Supporting Carers and family members (including advice on applying for Carer’s Allowance and other help available when looking after someone with cancer)
• Liaising with other services (help with accessing support from other agencies, charities, or local services that can assist a person during their cancer journey.
For more information call 0300 373 0952 To make a professional or self-referral go to https://www.citizensadviceessex.org.uk/macmillan
Alternatively, an electronic referral can be made to Provide Essex Wellbeing Service (EWS) selecting Debt & Benefits Support as the reason for referral and we will pass on to our CareNav+ partners at Citizens Advice.                                  

Being a carer can have an impact on a person’s own health and wellbeing as looking after a loved one may often take priority.                       A Carers UK survey showed 54% of carers felt their physical health had suffered as a direct result of their caring responsibilities.  EWS offers access to health checks, stop-smoking services, weight management courses, support with alcohol reduction and increasing physical activity. Plus, a children and family healthy lifestyle service that offers families support with making long-term and sustainable adjustments (suitable for families with children aged between 4 and 17years). Free and subsidised adult weight loss courses are available in a wide variety of formats to suit different lifestyles and learning styles:

Stop Smoking service provides free support with finding and accessing the right treatment pathway. Treatment options include behavioural support coupled with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (skin patches, chewing gum, inhalators, lozenges, mouth spray),  E-cigarettes or vapes and Allen Carr’s Easyway online seminar (recommended by NICE as an effective, drug-free way to quit).

Reducing Alcohol service works with individuals to help understand where the issues are regarding their alcohol intake. Supports people with setting goals and monitoring drinking levels, plus developing plans to safely manage drinking habits in future.

Physical activity – EWS supports individuals with finding, planning, tracking and setting goals towards being more active. Finding activities that fit into the person’s lifestyle that they enjoy and can maintain. Can offer referral to local leisure centres and activity groups. For more info or to self-refer to any one of EWS services click the logo, email or call the number shown at the top of this page.

offer carers free access to the Move Me personal coaching app. The app has follow-along workout programmes based on boxing, skipping, walking, stretching and gym weights/bands (if available at home). Plus, low pressure workouts suitable for beginners, monthly live coaching events on Zoom, a food tracker, meal plans and recipes.  Click logo to apply for app or email Carly at hello@thelossproject.com to find out more.

Caring for someone with.. is a comprehensive series of online advice and information covering numerous different caring situations including caring for someone with a dependency / addiction. Click on their logo for these articles or call 0300 303 1555.         

  June Carers News Letter

EWS Carers Noticeboard_ME_June2025.docx