Looking after a friend or relative
If the person you care for couldn’t cope without your support, you could be an unpaid carer. Find out about the support available to you.
Are you a carer?
A carer is anyone who provides unpaid support for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.
Carers can be:
- living apart from their cared for
- of any age (including children)
- caring for their spouse
- a parent caring for a child with additional needs
- providing mental support
Even if you don’t identify with the label, identifying yourself as a carer is important due to the rights and support available to you.
Support available for carers
All the below services and more are available on our Here for Hart Directory:
Visit the Here for Hart Directory
Carer Support Service
Princess Royal Trust for Carers provides the carer support service in Hampshire on behalf of Hampshire County Council.
They can help you with:
- free emergency planning
- one-to-one support tailored to your needs
- advice and information
- carers support groups
Contacting them is a great first step to getting information and to understand the support you’re entitled to.
Princess Royal Trust for Carers website
Carer's assessment
A carer’s assessment is to find out about your needs and how you may be able to get help. Following the assessment, you may be eligible to receive services such as the free ‘Take a Break’ service which is offered by Hampshire County Council.
Take a break service (Hampshire County Council)
Your GP practice
Register with your GP practice as a carer so they know you are an unpaid carer and can offer the best help, support and information.
Support differs between practices, but it can include:
- free health checks
- an annual flu jab
- access to a social prescriber (or equivalent) for support
- flexibility with doctors appointments
- support for your physical and mental health to enable you to continue to care
Contact your GP directly to register as a carer
Understanding your rights
Carers have a number of rights such as your right to choose to care, right to flexible working and rights against discrimination. To understand more about these rights, please visit the Rights for Unpaid Carers page.
Young carers
Carers can also be under the age of 18 and take on caring responsibilities for someone at home - often a sibling or parent. Young carers face different challenges and there is a dedicated service to supporting young carers – Hart and Rushmoor Young Carers.
Visit Hart and Rushmoor Young Carers website
This information on this page is available in a printed format.
To request copies of the printed leaflet, please contact hereforhart@hart.gov.uk