What is a carer?
A carer provides unpaid help and support to a relative, friend, partner, child or neighbour who has a disability, a physical or mental illness, is frail or has alcohol or drug related problems.
You are also a carer if you:
- have a child who is disabled, ill or has special needs;
- give support to someone who has mental-health difficulties;
- care for someone who has a drug or alcohol addiction, or you are affected by someone else's addiction;
- are a child looking after a member of your family.
Many people do not see themselves as carers.
They think of themselves as family members of friends.
As a result they often don't realise that there is help and support available for them.
There are 26,000 carers in Newcastle and six million carers in the UK.
Carers Centre Newcastle supports adult carers in Newcastle.
For information about support for young carers in the Newcastle contact:
Doug Laidlaw, Young Carer Support Worker, Newcastle Healthy City Project, Barnardo's Orchard Project, Orchard House, Buston Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 2JQ, telephone 0191 240 4813
email: doug.laidlaw@barnados.org.uk