Parent carers: As a parent carer you may be caring for a child under 18, or for your adult son or daughter, who has additional needs such as a physical disability or a learning difficulty (disability). Parents of children with additional needs face a unique set of challenges. There may be issues around education, or support needs, or a need for specialist equipment.
Our parent support groups offer a safe space to offload and gain mutual support. Look out for our fun sessions for the whole family and other activities. We can signpost you to various organisations that can support you and your child so that your child receives the right support to reach his/her potential; we can also make sure you are receiving all your entitlements and help you to access grants and charitable funds.
We can continue to support you through the period when your child transitions from child services to adult services. We will also help you to plan for the future.

Caring for a spouse or partner: You could be caring for a spouse or partner who has become ill or disabled or frail. In some cases, this can mean that you must take on all the responsibilities that were previously dealt with by your partner. In addition to fulfilling a new and challenging role as a carer, this can understandably be a daunting transition.

Mental health carers: If the person you care for has mental health issues you can register with Carers Outreach to receive support and information that will assist you to continue to provide support to your loved one.

Caring 24/7: Some caring roles are intense and place high demands on the carer. Our staff understand the challenges of the caring role at such times and can help you to access replacement/respite care so that you can have a little time to re-charge your batteries. We can ensure that you and your loved one are receiving all the benefits and services that you are entitled to, so that you can focus on the important job in hand.

Reluctant carer: Some people feel that the caring role has been thrust upon them. No one has to care. Click here to read about your right to say no

If you feel reluctant about caring but feel that you must still undertake the role of a carer, make sure that you are getting all the help and support available to ease the load. Remember you are still entitled to a life outside of caring.

Hands on carer: Busy carers can still be entitled to time out from caring. It is important to allow yourself time to relax and re-charge so that you are in the best possible shape to care - click here for more information

Sandwich carer: More and more carers are finding themselves with a dual caring role, that is, caring for more than one person with very different needs, e.g. an elderly parent and a young child.

Substance misuse carers: Caring for someone who is dependent on alcohol or drugs is challenging because carers can still feel that there is a stigma attached to this type of illness. Our staff will support you in a non-judgemental and professional manner which will help you to feel less isolated.

Dementia carers: We can help you to access all the support that is out there to best support your loved one who has dementia.

A serial carer: Some carers say they have been caring in one way or another for their entire life. They may start out as a young carer for a parent or sibling, then they may find themselves caring for a spouse, or continuing to care for a sibling after the death of their parents.

A stressed-out carer: Caring can bring a lot of challenging issues with it. Chatting with our friendly and experienced staff can help you to find solutions. Sometimes just having someone to listen to your concerns in a non-judgemental fashion can help enormously. Click here to see if you are stressed (link to how do you feel today)

Bereaved carer: It can be daunting to re-build your life following a bereavement. Carers Outreach has a free fact sheet entitled ‘Life after caring’. Contact your local carers’ hub to request a copy. We can refer you to specialist organisations to help you cope with your grief.

Caring from a distance: Some carers find themselves looking after relative, e.g. an elderly parent, who lives in another town. They may visit frequently, help with managing finances, shopping, appointments etc. If you are a carer and you live in one of the 3 counties that is covered by Carers Outreach Service, you are eligible to receive a service from us even when the person you care for lives out of our catchment area.