Support for carers

What support is available for carers in Tower Hamlets?

A range of support is available to carers. This includes:

information and advice
help with benefits for both carer and cared for
group and one-to-one support
carers forums & peer support groups
bereavement counselling
activities and outings
carers retreats
alleviation and management of stress including complementary massage therapies
case work and advocacy support to help carers to “speak out” and to be heard by professionals
training & volunteering opportunities
digital resources for carers – online training and forums

Some of these services are available to all adult carers, whilst others have basic criteria (for example, some support groups are targeted at specific groups). They are all provided free of charge.

If you think you need support and are not sure where to start, contact the Carers Centre on 020 7790 1765 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri). You may also find it useful to see what general activities are happening in your local area. The Idea Store Directory is a good place to start or check out the online directory of services on Tower Hamlets Connect.

Carer Assessment

We offer Carers Assessments for people who may need more intensive or ongoing support from the council. These assessments are based on a discussion about the kinds of issues you need help with, the impact these issues have on your life and how they can be addressed.

Find out more about social care assessments. If you think you need a Carers Needs Assessment, please contact the Tower Hamlets Carers Centre first.

Carers Relief

Replacement and respite care can enable carers to have a break. Replacement care can involve the person you care for going into a residential respite centre for a short period of time, or it can involve an organisation providing care at home.

Replacement or respite care can usually be discussed as part of a “Carer Assessment” or the assessment of the person you care for.

If you think you need a Carers Needs Assessment, please contact the Carers Centre: Tower Hamlets Carers Centre 21 Brayford Square London E1 0SG Tel: 020 7790 1765 Opening Hours: Thursday - Tuesday 9:30am – 5pm, Wednesday 9:30 - 8pm Saturday 11am - 3pm.

Personal budgets and direct payments

We know that friends or family members who care for their loved ones can sometimes need support themselves. Carers who are in serious need of support may be eligible to get a personal budget, which is an amount of money from the council to purchase support. For more information on personal budgets.

More information

Carer's allowance
If you are 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone, you may be eligible for a carer's allowance. For more details visit www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Carers Direct hotline
For information and advice call 0808 802 0202.

For more information on young carers visit:

Local carer organisations

The Carers Centre Tower Hamlets

Tel: 020 7790 1765

Visit: www.ccth.org.uk

APASEN Care Services (for Asian families caring for someone with a learning disability)

Tel: 020 7375 0760
Visit: www.apasenth.org.uk

Rethink

Tel: 0300 5000 927
Email: towerhamletscarers@rethink.org
Visit: http://www.rethink.org