Support and Training - BarnsleyCarers

If you are a carer, we can help with…

Groups and events

It’s easy to feel isolated when you are caring for someone. Making a bit of time for yourself to join a group is an important part of keeping your own health and wellbeing in a good place.

Barnsley Carers Service holds regular groups and meet-ups for carers to come together and support each other, share experiences and make new connections. We have a range of groups and activities all designed around what carers tell us they enjoy.

We also understand that going to a group for the first time can be daunting, so please get in touch if you would like support with this.

Visit our events page to see what’s coming up

Resources:

Barnsley Carers Forum
Health and wellbeing

Useful links

Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.

Training

Barnsley Carers Service works with local and national providers to deliver a range of training and sessions tailored to unpaid carers.

From mindfulness and sleep management to digital skills and emergency first aid, we make sure that we offer groups, sessions and courses that help unpaid carers in their daily lives. Adding new skills and giving you access to resources that add real value to your caring role.

Whether you’re looking for ways to improve your wellbeing, learn new practical skills to help you to better care for your loved ones or gain confidence that you can use in the workplace or when dealing with health professionals – we are here to support you.

Our events page is regularly updated with all the current and upcoming sessions and courses that we have planned.

Resources:

Events
Free digital resource for carers
Free digital resource for employers

Useful links

Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.

Counselling

Giving your time and energy to look after a friend, family member or loved one can take its toll on your mental health. It’s important that you get the chance to share your mental load and discuss your feelings to safeguard your wellbeing.

We all know that taking time to talk to friends, colleagues and other carers provides great comfort. Sometimes unpaid carers need an extra level of support from someone who is professional and impartial. A trained professional who can listen and hear your concerns without judgement.

That’s why we have partnered with Rotherham and Barnsley Mind to offer up to six free counselling sessions for unpaid carers.

This service is open to all unpaid carers in Barnsley, and our team can refer you, but please be aware that there may be a waiting list. Get in touch if you would like to find out more. All calls and messages are confidential and will be treated sensitively.

Resources:

Health and wellbeing
Mental health and substance misuse

Useful links

Rotherham and Barnsley Mind counselling

Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.

Digital tools

If you struggle with technology and would like help accessing the internet, online groups or other services – Barnsley Carers Service can offer you support. We know how important it is that every unpaid carer in Barnsley can access the digital tools and services they need.

Please get in touch with our team if you need support to get online.

Free digital resource for Barnsley carers

“Looking after someone can be so complicated. Jointly helps me stay on top of things and share information easily with everyone involved in my son’s care.”

If you’re looking after a family member, loved one or friend, it can be hard to keep on track of all the appointments, records, resources, and services that demand your attention.

Barnsley Council has teamed up with Carers UK to give unpaid carers in Barnsley access to a wide range of digital tools and essential resources that may help make your caring situation easier. The online platform offers self-help information and resources including:

About Me – building resilience for carers: an e-learning resource that helps carers identify and build networks of support and promotes their self-care.
Jointly – an innovative app for people sharing care that simplifies communication and coordination.
The role of good nutrition when caring for someone: an e-learning course that aims to help carers understand the role of nutrition both for themselves as well as the person they are looking after.
Upfront guide to caring: a simple assessment tool to guide people new to caring or seeking support for the first time to navigate the Carers UK website.
Looking after someone – carer’s rights guide: helps carers understand their rights as a carer and where to go for financial or practical help.
Learning for living: an e-learning resource designed to help carers recognise the transferable skills they have gained through their caring journey, to boost their confidence at work.
Young adult carers: an e-learning resource for young adult carers now in adult services including, for example, advice and information for making choices about caring, and support in and about education and work.
Thinking ahead: a questionnaire style tool to help people think about the costs of caring including, for example, understanding how it may affect pensions, potential costs of professional care and residential care.

All these resources and products are free! To use them simply visit the Carers UK Digital Resources page and use the access code: DGTL3300

Resources:

Digital and technology
Carers UK digital resource
Support and training

Useful links

Need more info? Leave your details and we’ll get back in touch.

Information / Resources (downloads & links)

Carer health and wellbeing + More info

Dementia + More info

Digital and technology + More info

Grief and bereavement + More info

Learning disabilities and neurodivergent + More info

Mental Health and substance misuse + More info

Parent carers of SEND children + More info

Working carers + More info

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:

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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:

image shows an older person being comforted by the hand of a carer or family member

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:

Barnsley Carers Resources:

Digital support for carers

photo shows an older lady sat on a sofa using her mobile phone

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:

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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:

Barnsley Carers Resources:

image of a person waving to the camera wearing a sunflower lanyard showing that they have a learning disability or are neurodivergent

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:

Barnsley Carers Resources:

cut out image of a pink head side on showing brainwaves against a bright blue background

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:

Barnsley Carers Resources:

photo of a child with additional needs in a wheelchair being helped by an adult using a phone

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:

Barnsley Carers Resources:

image shows two men outside in a park laughing together while looking at a phone