If you are a carer, we can help with…
Benefits and assessments
We understand how overwhelming and difficult it can be to navigate the benefits system. Many carers simply don’t have the time or the know-how to access the benefits and financial support they are entitled to.
The Barnsley Carers Service team is here to answer any query you have around benefits and assessments and to help you in any way we can. We can advise you on which benefits you may be entitled to, help you to fill out claim forms and point you in the right direction to access additional support.
Some of the things we can help with include:
- Disability Living Allowance for children, Personal Independent Payments, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance
- Carer’s Assessment
- Respite Care
- Blue badge and transport
- Assistive technology and disability equipment
Useful links
Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.
Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.
Cost of living support
We know that many unpaid carers are struggling with the cost of living right now. Caring for someone often comes with additional costs and we understand that many carers find themselves struggling and in hardship as a result. You might not realise that you’re entitled to some help.
Barnsley Carers Service can help signpost you to the right services, grants, and benefits to make sure that you can access the financial support you are entitled to.
We work in partnership with professional bodies to stay up to date with what support is available. Our team can advise you on where to go for additional help, and even assist you to complete benefits applications and forms if needed.
Barnsley Council’s More Money In Your Pocket is a fantastic resource with practical advice and links on where to find local and national help. It covers everything from help with energy bills, to food support and help with housing costs.
As part of Cloverleaf Advocacy, Barnsley Carers Service has also joined the Carers Poverty Coalition. Along with 100 other national and local organisations, we are campaigning to build awareness, improve the benefits system for unpaid carers and end poverty through policy changes.
Resources:
Financial clinics
Benefits and Assessment Support
Health and wellbeing
Carers Poverty Coalition
Useful links
Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.
Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.
Financial clinics
Coming soon…
New for 2023! We are planning to hold local financial clinics once every three months for unpaid carers in Barnsley. These free drop-in clinics will be hosted in easily accessible locations.
Working with trained experts from recognised professional services, we will be able to offer practical advice and guidance on financial matters relating to your caring role such as:
- Tax and benefits
- Allowances
- Grants
- Pensions
- Debt advice
- Help with the cost of living
- Budgeting
Keep an eye on our events page for updates
Resources:
Benefits and Assessment Support
Cost of living support
Useful links
Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.
Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.
Information / Resources (downloads & links)
Carer health and wellbeing
We know that being a carer can be both rewarding and isolating. It’s vital that you know where to get the right support to make sure that your own health and wellbeing don’t suffer in your caring role.
We’re here to help you access support, groups, courses, and wellbeing sessions to help give you that bit of headspace. Looking after your own health and wellbeing is important for you and the person you care for. All Barnsley Carers Services are free and confidential. If you’d like to find out more, please contact us.
Other local services:
Barnsley Council
Live Well Barnsley
Butterflies ‘Give Carers a Break’ group
Dementia Friendly Barnsley
Yorkshire cancer community groups
HOME – early support mental health hub
Barnsley activities and groups
Healthwatch Barnsley
SouthWest Yorkshire Partnership – All of us in mind
Barnsley Hospice
Barnsley HealthCare Federation
Better arts and crafts groups
Useful links to National services:
Barnsley Carers Resources:
Dementia
We recognise that caring for a loved one, family member or friend with dementia can bring its own set of unique challenges. We understand that the support you need changes over time and can often be hard to predict. They are many services and support networks available to support you as a carer and the person you are caring for. Barnsley Carers Service can help to guide you in accessing these resources. All our services are free and confidential, please contact us if you’d like to know more.
Other local services:
Barnsley Council: Dementia
Butterflies ‘Give Carers a Break’ group
Barnsley dementia action alliance
Dementia day care: Live Well Barnsley | Care2Care Services Ltd
Crossroads Barnsley: Crossroads Caring for Carers
Dementia Friendly Barnsley
Dementia support Barnsley | Alzheimer’s Society
BIADS Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support
NHS Barnsley Memory Service: Memory service (Barnsley) – South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Barnsley Hospice – Providing specialist compassionate care for patients and those close to them
Useful links to National services:
Barnsley Carers Resources:
Digital and technology
Staying connected and being able to access services are vital tools in supporting you in your caring role.
We understand that finding out where to go online or how to use digital technologies can feel overwhelming, so we’ve pulled together a handy list of resources to try and help you on your way.
If you need help to get online, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help. All Barnsley Carers Services are free and confidential.
Other local services:
Barnsley Council
Jointly app for Barnsley Carers
Useful links to National services:
- Carers UK online tools to help with caring
- The Family Fund – support to use technology
- How to join a Zoom meeting – Video
- How to join a Zoom meeting
- Age UK – IT training
- Digital Skills for carers
- Carers UK video – Everyday technology to help carers
- Independence at Home – grants for independent living
- Living Made Easy – impartial advice and information on solutions, gadgets, adaptations, and aids to make life easier
- NHS – websites you can access with your NHS login
- Alzheimer’s UK – how technology can help
- AbilityNet – free tech support and information for people with any disability
Barnsley Carers Resources:
Grief and bereavement
Losing someone that we care for affects everyone differently. We understand that during such a difficult time you may need help to manage both the emotional and practical demands that come with that loss.
Our team is on hand to guide you on how to access the right support for your particular needs. We also offer continued assistance and support once you have stopped caring, for whatever reason.
Barnsley Carers Services are free and confidential. If you’d like to find out more, please contact us.
Other local services:
Barnsley Council
Barnsley Hospice
Amparo
Henry’s Hope
Barnsley Bereavement Services
Useful links to National services:
Barnsley Carers Resources:
Learning disabilities and neurodivergent
If you are caring for a loved one with learning disabilities and/or a neurological condition such as Autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions we can support you with financial, health and wellbeing advice and practical guidance to help you access the services you need to lighten the load.
From local support groups to national resources and even benefits assessments, if our team can’t help with your specific requirements, we will signpost you to the service that best suits your needs.
Other local services:
Barnsley Council – Learning disability supported activities
Live Well Barnsley
Barnsley safe places
Thursday’s Voice group for adults living with a learning disability and autism
My Barnsley Too disability forum
Mencap Barnsley – Helping local Barnsley people with learning disabilities lead more fulfilled lives
Dial
Barnsley Adult disability service
Inclusion North – inclusion for people with a learning disability or autism
Voyage Care – Specialist support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs
Other local services:
- Health and Wellbeing support
- Groups, events, and training
- Counselling
- Benefits and assessments support
- Future planning
- See also our Parent Carers resources
Barnsley Carers Resources:
- Mencap
- Foundation for people with learning disabilities
- Learning disability England
- Carers Trust
- Scope
- Contact
- National Autistic Society
- Autism support forum
- ADHD foundation
- The Brain Charity
- Society for neurodiversity
- Mind – Learning disability support
- NHS – Learning disabilities
- Dimensions
- Challenging behaviour foundation
- The Buzz
Mental Health and substance misuse
Caring for a friend, family member or loved one with mental health needs, drug and alcohol issues, or dementia brings many unique challenges.
Barnsley Carers Service provides a specialist service delivered by trained professionals to offer emotional and practical support to carers like you.
Our service is free and confidential. If you’d like to find out more, please contact us.
Other local services:
Rotherham and Barnsley Mind
Butterflies carers dementia support
Barnsley Mental Health Services
Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support – BIADS | Help for today – Hope for tomorrow
Dementia Friendly Barnsley
Barnsley Recovery Steps – Barnsley Recovery Steps
Linwood House: Alcohol and Drug Rehab in South Yorkshire
Useful links to National services:
- Carers UK – caring for someone with a mental health condition
- Mind
- Mental Health Foundation
- Dementia UK
- Alzheimer’s Society
- Andys Man Club
- Combat Stress
- Samaritans
- Alcohol change
- Drug support and counselling
- Adfam – Finding support
Barnsley Carers Resources:
Parent carers of SEND children
If you are caring for a child aged 0-25 with SEND (special educational needs and disability) we can support you as a parent carer. We work with local authorities and other nonprofit organisations and support groups across Barnsley to help parent carers to access the practical and emotional support they need and are entitled to.
We can help with benefits and assessment checks, financial advice and support, counselling, and peer support groups. If our team can’t assist with your specific requirements, we will signpost you to the service that best suits your needs. All Barnsley Carers Services are free and confidential.
Other local services:
Barnsley Council: Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Barnsley Local Offer: Synergy
Barnsley SENDIASS advice and support
Dial
Barnsley Family Centres
Talkin Tarn Community Group
Compass Be Young Person/Children mental health team
Child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) (Barnsley)
Live Well Barnsley
Useful links to National services:
- Parent and Carer Alliance
- Young Minds
- Kids.org
- Contact – for families with disabled children
- National Autistic Society
- NHS Autism
- ADHD foundation
- The Brain Charity
- Society for neurodiversity
- NHS England – Special educational needs and disability
- Dimensions
- Challenging behaviour foundation
Barnsley Carers Resources:
Working carers
It’s estimated that around 1 in 7 employees in the UK currently juggles work with their caring role. Carers UK put that number somewhere in the region of 5 million people. It’s good to know that you’re not alone, but we also want to make sure that you know your rights as a working carer.
We can guide you through how to request flexible working and time off for caring duties as well as offering training and upskilling to boost your skills and help you to fulfil your own goals and ambitions.
Other local services:
Barnsley Council: Support for carers
Live Well Barnsley
Useful links to National services:
- Carers UK
- Your rights as a working carer
- CIPD supporting working carers
- Supporting carers in the workplace
- Flexible working ACAS
- Carers UK Right to Carers leave
Barnsley Carers Resources: