If you are a carer, we can help with…
Future planning
What happens to your loved one if you fall ill?
This is a thought that many carers tell us keeps them awake at night. Regardless of who you care for, many of us are likely to be faced with this situation at some point during our caring role.
It’s never nice to have to consider the ‘What if?’ It’s one of those jobs that we all keep putting off. But having a plan in place can save an awful lot of stress, time, and anxiety at a point when you need to look after yourself.
We can guide and support you to look at your options and help you to put together a well-thought-out and considered contingency plan. Our team can talk through your wishes about what you want to happen in an emergency, and make sure that you know what services are available to support and care for you and your loved ones.
Resources:
Carers UK My Back-Up’ digital contingency tool
Carers ID card
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.
Carers ID card
Barnsley Carers Service offers a free ‘carers ID card’ for all local unpaid carers. We know that as a carer you can sometimes face barriers when dealing with health professionals or when you need assistance in an emergency. This card can help to identify you as a carer and let them know that you’re looking after someone while you carry out your caring duties.
The card is the same size as a traditional bank card or pass and fits inside your wallet or purse.
Please contact us if you would like to request a card.
Resources:
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.
Signposting to other services
We work closely with a wide range of professional health and care services such as, Barnsley Carers Forum, Barnsley Council, charities and community groups to provide support, advice and training designed to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of local carers.
We know that often people do not see themselves as carers and can miss out on vital information and support to help them in their caring role. That’s where we come in. Our team is on hand to offer support, advice, and guidance on your rights as a carer. Sometimes this includes signposting you to other healthcare, financial or professional organisations.
Whatever your caring situation, you can expect:
- A single point of contact
- to be listened to and be taken seriously
- to be treated with respect
- to be supported in a way that meets your individual needs
Resources:
About Barnsley Carers Service
Barnsley Carers Service leaflet
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.
Health and wellbeing
“I didn’t know where to start or where to go to get support”
It’s easy to feel isolated when you are caring. Even if you juggle your caring role with work and family duties, the demands of caring for someone can often leave carers feeling that they are all alone.
We understand the importance of being able to find time for yourself. Looking after your own health and wellbeing may not seem like a priority, but you can’t fill from an empty cup.
Barnsley Carers Service listens to the needs of the carers we support to make sure that we offer a range of support to help you find headspace and time with other carers to share experiences and look out for each other.
There are many ways that we can help you to find new and better ways to look after your health and wellbeing.
- Groups – from lunch clubs, to knitting groups. We host regular meet-ups for unpaid carers in Barnsley to build new friendships in a safe and understanding environment.
- Days out and wellbeing sessions – with the help of grants and funding we provide ad-hoc days out and wellbeing sessions for unpaid carers. Offering you the chance to relax and unwind.
- Carer respite – we can help you to access supported carer wellbeing short breaks via Carefree and grants such as The Family Fund.
- Counselling – we have partnered with Rotherham and Barnsley Mind to offer unpaid carers the opportunity to attend free counselling sessions with trained professionals.
- Training and upskilling – we can guide you on how to access courses for carers or learn new skills to help you in your caring role, and your chosen career. Supporting you to get back into the workplace or even volunteering.
- One-to–one support – our team are passionate about supporting carers to get the help and support they need to fulfil their caring role and look after their own health and wellbeing. Whether you need help applying for your carers allowance, guidance on where to go for financial support, or just a friendly face to chat to. We are by your side.
Resources:
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:
- Carers UK
- Cruse
- Marie Curie
- The Good Grief Trust
- Care for the family
- NHS
- Mind
- Sue Ryder
- Suicide bereavement
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:
