Adult’s Carer Wellbeing Fund

As part of our support offer to adult unpaid caregivers in Gateshead, we can provide a Carer Wellbeing Fund. The Fund is intended to enhance and support Caregiver’s lives outside of their caring role, relieving stress and improving their wellbeing. Caregivers can be provided with the grant once in 12 months.

Eligibility Criteria

All registered caregivers must meet the following eligibility criteria in order to apply for the Carer Wellbeing Fund:

  • You are an unpaid caregiver aged 26 and above.
  • The person you care for lives in the borough of Gateshead.
  • You are in receipt of one of the following benefits;
    • Carer’s Allowance
    • 100% Council Tax Reduction
    • Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
    • Housing Benefit
    • Income Support
    • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
    • Guaranteed Pension Credit
    • Child Tax Credits
    • Universal Credit
  • You have not received a Carer Wellbeing Fund grant in the last 12 months.
  • You are actively engaging with support from Caregivers Connected Gateshead.
  • Only one adult caregiver can apply for caring for one dependent. (I.e. if the mother and father of a child with disabilities want to apply, only one of the parents can apply for the grant, the other will be rejected).

How do I access the Carer Wellbeing Fund?

The Carer Wellbeing Fund is one part of our caregiver support – as such anyone who wishes to access the Wellbeing Fund must first be registered with us and be receiving caregiver support.

Register as a caregiver

What can the Fund cover?

  • Contribution to a short break or holiday, such as a hotel room and/or travel to a break.
  • Complementary/alternative/holistic therapies.
  • Spa days.
  • Cookery courses.
  • Arts and crafts sessions.
  • Gym or leisure centre membership.
  • Theatre trips, cinema trips or passes.
  • Driving lessons.
  • A laptop/tablet/mobile phone.
  • Creating a calming space at home.

What can’t the Fund cover?

  • To buy tobacco, alcohol or other drug.
  • To pay off debt.
  • To gamble, including Bingo.
  • To pay for household bills such as rent, gas, electricity, internet or TV packages.
  • To pay for petrol/travel that are not part of a holiday/break.
  • To pay for residential care in a care home.
  • To pay for ordinary costs of daily living, i.e. food shopping, hairdressing, clothes, etc.
  • To pay for the person you are caring for or any other person to accompany you on a break/holiday.
  • To pay for anything you have already done, bought, rented or paid for.
  • To pay for anything that should be provided for by Gateshead Council or the NHS.
  • Cosmetic procedures i.e. tattoo, piercing, hair extensions or nail enhancements.
  • To do anything which is against the law.
  • Breaks or services that can access for free within the caregiver’s locality.
  • General spending money.
  • Vouchers that can be used on general goods, such as supermarkets, garden centres etc. Please note, activity vouchers are acceptable such as for the cinema.
  • Purchases from any business that are not NMRC registered businesses or from social media advertisements i.e. Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree.

Reviewing your application

Each month a panel assembles to evaluate all submitted applications. The responsibility for determining successful candidates for funding lies with this panel. Given the restricted nature of the grant’s financial resources, priority is awarded to those who have not received the Carer Wellbeing Fund in the past. Please know that the Carer Wellbeing Fund is not guaranteed.

Outcome of the application

Following the panel’s meeting and discussion regarding the grant awards, you will be informed of the results of your application. Notification will be sent out via email and for those who do not have access to an email address, a telephone call will be made to convey the outcome.

For anyone who is unhappy with the outcome of their grant application, we ask that you call us on 0808 801 0350 or email us at cwf@carersfederation.co.uk and we will discuss this with you.

For those who are unsuccessful and would like to reapply for this grant in the future, please contact us if your circumstances change and you believe that your needs are more urgent at the time of this application.

Please send all receipts via email to cwf@carersfederation.co.uk