Information and advice

Sunderland Carers’ Centre can provide information and advice to carers to help them in their caring role. As everyone’s caring situation is different, we can give carers information relevant to their particular needs. This may be information about a specific illness or condition, or information about local services available for both carer and the person they care for.

Click here to view more about information and advice

Welfare benefits advice

Sunderland Carers' Centre does not provide advice to carers about welfare benefits.

Click here to find out where to go for advice on benefits

Support and a listening ear

As a carer you can sometimes feel alone and need someone to talk to about your caring situation. Sunderland Carers’ Centre can offer one-to-one support and a listening ear to carers. Workers can speak to carers over the phone or meet them at the Carers’ Centre, in the carer’s own home or at another convenient meeting place. If carers work during the day, workers can arrange appointments outside normal office hours.

Click here to view more information about support and a listening ear

Support at meetings

Sunderland Carers’ Centre can accompany and provide support to carers at meetings with health, social care services and other agencies. Examples of such meetings include carers’ assessments and reviews and assessments for the cared-for person.

Click here to view more information about support at meetings

Carers' groups

When you are a carer it is easy to become cut off from your friends and outside interests and often you feel that you are the only person in this situation. To help reassure carers that they are not alone Sunderland Carers’ Centre runs a number of carers’ groups to give carers the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation.

Click here to view more information about carers' groups

Summer Carers' Group Programme

Circle of Friends Group

Courses and Caring with Confidence

Sunderland Carers’ Centre runs a variety of courses for carers to give them the opportunity to develop their skills and to learn about things that may help them in their caring situation.

Caring with Confidence is a series of free local group sessions for carers over 18. The sessions help carers make a positive difference to their life and that of the person they care for. Themes range from handling emotions and looking after your own health to dealing effectively with professionals and service providers.

Click here for more information and the dates of future Caring with Confidence sessions

Forthcoming Training for Carers:

Caring with Confidence

April - June 2013

'The Place', Athenaeum Street, Sunderland SR1 1QX

Social activities

Sunderland Carers’ Centre arranges social activities and events throughout the year to give carers a break from their caring responsibilities and enjoy some leisure time with other carers.

Click here to view more information about social activities

Future social activities:

Carers Coffee Morning

Monday 20th May, 10.30am - 12 noon

Sunderland Carers' Centre

Carers Coffee Evening (including Bingo)

Wednesday 5th June, 6.30pm - 8.15pm

Sunderland Carers' Centre

Carers Week Trip to Harrogate

Wednesday 12th June

Bookings taken from Tuesday 7th May

All carers welcome.

Newsletter

Sunderland Carers’ Centre produces a free newsletter every two months to keep people up-to-date with services for carers. For many carers the newsletter is the main, and sometimes, the only contact they have with the Centre. Some carers may not need regular advice and support or may be unable to attend carers’ groups or social activities because of work or their caring responsibilities. The newsletter can keep them informed about what is happening locally and nationally.

Carers can join the newsletter mailing list to receive the newsletter and other mailings via post. Please call Sunderland Carers’ Centre on (0191) 549 3768 or send an email giving your name and postal address.

Click here to view the latest newsletter

Parent Carer Information Bulletin

The Carers’ Centre also produces a free monthly Parent Carer Information Bulletin for parents and carers looking after disabled children under 18 years old.

Parent carers can join the parent carer mailing list to receive the bulletin and other mailings via post.  Please call Sunderland Carers' Centre on (0191) 549 3768 or send an email giving your name and postal address.

Click here to view the latest bulletin

Opportunities to influence service development

Sunderland Carers’ Centre enables carers to work together to give carers a voice to influence policy and service development for the people they care for and for themselves as carers. Carers are invited to give their views to the Centre as individuals, through groups or specially arranged meetings.

Click here for more information

Recent examples and consultation reports:

Click here to look at recent examples and consultation reports

Current consultations and future events:

Click here for details about current consultations and future events

Are you feeling the financial strain?

Feedback on recent consultations:

Click here for feedback on recent consultations

Sunderland Carers' Management Board

Click here to find out more about the Sunderland Carers' Management Board

Support and activities for young carers

Sunderland Carers’ Centre provides support and activities to young carers. A young carer is a young person aged between 4 and 25 who is looking after a family member with an illness or disability. They may care alone or as part of a family.

Click here to find out how we can help young carers

Carers Trust also has a national website for young carers.  Click here

If you are a professional and would like to find out more about young carers the following publications may be of interest:

Recognising young carers - a practitioners guide

Young carer's school card leaflet

Breaks and opportunities for carers

The Carers Breaks and Opportunities Scheme (CBOS) offers carers the chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities or take part in opportunities or activities of their choice that will help to maintain or improve their quality of life. It can also provide care to the cared for person whilst the carer has a break from their caring responsibilities.

The scheme is open to adult carers, parent carers of disabled children, young carers and group applications.

Click here to view more information about the Carers Breaks and Opportunities Scheme