Carers Advice

Are You a Carer?

A carer is: Somebody, of any age, who provides support or who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of frailty, physical or mental illness, or disability.

If you are a carer for somebody else, please make sure the practice knows this as they can use this information to support you, and the person you are caring for.

Help and Support

Nottingham City Support

  • Carers Federation
    support for carers, or call: 0115 962 931
  • Rainbow Parents Carers Forum
    support for parents who care for a disabled child, or call: 0115 934 8451
  • Local Information Online Nottingham (LiON)
    A directory of local information, advice and support available to help you and the person you care for
  • Learning Disability Carers’ Forum
    support for carers of someone with a learning disability, ensuring carers’ voices are heard. Call: 0115 852 8000
  • Age UK
    provides services for older people, or call: 0115 844 0011
  • Nottinghamshire NHS Foundation Trust
    a community and mental health services, or call: 0115 969 1300
  • Nottingham Mencap
    support for people with a learning disability, and their families, or call: 0115 920 9524

National Support

  • Carers UK
    provides advice and support for carers 
  • Carers Trust UK
    a National charity supporting carers 
  • Include
    Children’s Society initiative supporting young carers and their families
  • Contact A Family
    supporting families of disabled children, or call: 0808 808 3555
  • Alzheimer’s Society
    for Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Tel: 0115 934 3800
  • MIND
    helping people with mental ill-health
  • SANE
    helping people affected by mental illness, or call: 0300 304 7000
  • SCOPE
    a National charity supporting people with a disability, or call: 0808 800 3333
  • Mencap
    a National charity supporting people with a learning disability
  • Headway
    support after a brain injury, or call: 0115 924 0800

Information supplied by Nottingham City Council

Finance and Law

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

  • Benefits for carers
    Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
  • Benefits for the under-65s
    Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to. 
  • Benefits for the over-65s
    Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
  • Carer’s Assessment
    How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
  • Other benefits
    Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring

Information supplied by NHS website


Looking after you, too.

  • Taking a break
    Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it’s essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.
  • Telling people
    Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you’re a carer is important so they understand and can support you.