Find someone to talk to about caring

If you have identified yourself as a carer, we know that you may not have much spare time. There are a number of organisations that can help you find the information, advice, support and activities, you need as a carer.

Support for carers in Leicestershire

Support for carers

Whether you care full-time or just a few hours a week, we provide information and advice service for carers in Leicestershire through Support for Carers. Their services include:

  • telephone advice line - call 01858 468 543 during office hours Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm) or email: maureen@supportforcarers.org
  • issuing carers passports, which identify, recognise, and support unpaid carers in the community or in an organisation
  • telephone befriending service - for people who feel isolated and haven’t got support from family and friends
  • buddying scheme - get to know other carers in the same situation as you
  • local carers support groups and other social community groups they can put you in touch with
  • carers emergency plan and carers ID cards are issued out on registration
  • help completing a carer’s assessment to see whether you might be eligible for support

Carers UK

We would encourage all of our carers in Leicestershire to register with Carers UK, so that we can provide you with a wide range of online resources to help make your caring role easier including:

  • Free access to the Jointly app - which allows you to share and manage your caring responsibilities with friends, family, and neighbours
  • Upfront Guide to Caring - a simple assessment tool to guide you on things like benefits and entitlements which then provides you with an action plan
  • Online courses - which help you to identify and find resources, technology, and support
  • Support guides - about your rights as a carer and being heard

To access these resources, please register with Employers for Carers (EfC) and use the free access code: #EFC1945

The Carers UK helpline is available Monday to Friday (9am to 6pm) on 0808 808 7777 or you can email advice@carers.org.

Local area coordinators

Our Local Area Co-ordinators may be able to put you in touch with a support group in your community.

First Contact Plus

Visit First Contact Plus for health and social care information and advice in Leicestershire. By making a self-referral, you will get a call back within 2 days.

Other support

The NHS Carers Direct Helpline (0300 123 1053) and web chat are available Monday to Friday (9am to 8pm) and weekends (11am to 4pm). 

Carers Trust offers online help and advice.

Social media (such as Facebook and Twitter) and online forums can be a convenient way to link up with other carers. You may want to consider setting up your own if you can't find one.

Further reading

NHS helplines and forums