Who do we support?
We support unpaid family carers, of all ages in Suffolk, who support someone with a long term illness, mental health difficulty or disability who could not cope day to day without this help.
Helping Young Carers (aged 5-25)
A young carer is a child or young person aged between 5 to 25 years old whose life is in some way different or restricted because they provide, practical or emotional support to someone else.
The person they provide care for is often a parent, or a relative who is physically or mentally ill, elderly, disabled or misuses alcohol or substances. Young carers could also be supporting and caring for a disabled brother or sister.
Being a young carer can mean that sometimes it can be difficult managing the things they feel they have to do or would like to do. This can affect young people in different ways. We are here to support young carers in Suffolk, at schools or colleges, at their homes and in peer groups.
Support for Adult Carers
An adult carer is a person over the age of 18 who provides unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness, long-term condition or elderly, who wouldn’t be able to cope without the help.
Unpaid family carers in Suffolk and around the country are holding families together, enabling those they care for to get the most out of life, making an enormous contribution to society and saving the economy billions of pounds.
We are able to make sure that no matter how complicated your query or experience, you don’t have to care alone. It is important that as a family carer you get the information and support. This helps maintain your own health and well-being alongside that of the person you care for.
Supporting Parent Carers
It can be difficult to recognise ourselves as carers. Especially, when we see ourselves as simply being ‘Mum’, ‘Dad’, ‘a parent’ or just doing what needs to be done for our child.
However, identifying and registering as a carer opens up opportunities for further support for ourselves.
Parent carers provide support to their children, including grown up children who could not manage without their help. You may be caring for a child or young person under the age of 18, or under the age of 25 if they have additional needs such as special educational, physical or mental health needs or a disability.
Standing alongside Serving Family Carers
Our dedicated team provide tailored support to suit individual caring roles with the Armed Forces and Veteran communities in Suffolk. This includes emotional wellbeing support, advice with practical issues and signposting to other agencies.
We offer both face to face and telephone/video support which is designed to fit your needs as a family carer. We regularly meet family carers at the Hive Community Centres, in their own homes, or at a suitable venue of their choice. We also off a ‘walk & talk’ meeting at your favourite location around Suffolk with a cuppa – giving you chance to ‘offload’ in the fresh air.
Working with Professionals
We work in partnership with professionals across Suffolk.
Professionals can often be the first to identify family carers from their work within the community, GP surgeries or hospitals. Suffolk Family Carers ensures you are able to give family carers all the help and support they need.
We offer professional training if you work in health or social care. We can deliver bespoke training sessions for your team, deliver workshops and information sessions about Suffolk Family Carers services, support events and courses.
Guiding Businesses and Employers
Good businesses in Suffolk need good people and there has never been a better time to focus on the benefits of retaining skilled workers. By supporting your employees to work healthily and productively whilst caring you can reduce the costs of recruiting and training new staff.
1 in 7 in your workforce will be caring for someone who is older, disabled or seriously ill. In the current economic climate it is an important time to retain skilled workers rather than recruiting and retraining new staff.
