Carers Count Kirklees

Who might need this: anyone providing unpaid help and support to a loved one due to illness or disability.

Our Carers Count services support adults who provide unpaid help and support to a loved one due to illness or disability.

We know that being a carer can impact your day-to-day life significantly. It can be both rewarding and isolating. You may be unable to work. Your own health can suffer as a result.

Our Carers Count service in Kirklees aims to promote the wellbeing of carers, so they can continue in their caring role and have a life of their own, by:

Providing advice and information (including benefits advice)
Running groups, activities and sessions
Offering support and helping carers to support each other.
Helping carers to find their voice and ensuring they are heard through the advocacy service and the Carers Network
Delivering training
Helping to raise awareness of carers rights and issues to the wider public.

The service also includes specialist provision for carers of people with mental health needs and/or drug and alcohol dependency. In addition to the above, this provision also provides:

Carer breaks to support the person being cared for - including people with an early diagnosis of dementia - offering the opportunity for regular respite
1:1 support for carers to talk about how they are feeling, or to access support and information to help them as a carer

Here are some of the things we offer

Benefits - we can help with completing forms for Carers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children, Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Attendance Allowance (AA).

Carers Assessments - we can help to complete the form to access other support you may need.

Support & Practical Help - for both the carer and the person they care for.

Social groups and activities - for the carer and the person they care for. Our groups can help you to meet other people in a similar situation, share experiences and support.

Ongoing emotional support - after bereavement.

Whilst we cannot offer counselling services, we understand how difficult it can be to lose a loved one who you have been caring for.