Welcome to the Caregivers Information Hub! This webpage provides you with a range of useful information and support available by our team as well as local and national services.
Connecting with your community
Having a caring role can sometimes leave you feeling isolated from your friends and family. In fact, Carers UK has reported that 78% of caregivers say that they often or sometimes feel lonely. As a charity here to support caregivers of all ages across Gateshead, we’re helping to connect caregivers to their communities so that they can reduce this feeling of isolation and enjoy everything it has to offer.
Our Groups and Activities
We offer a wide range of groups and activities across the borough for all caregivers to get involved in. These sessions are for the caring community, giving them opportunities to meet other local caregivers and take a short break from their caring roles. There are lots of different sessions we have for you to try including coffee mornings, hobby group sessions and outings.
Discover what’s on your doorstep using OurGateshead
OurGateshead is a fantastic website that showcases all of the fantastic things Gateshead has to offer. In particular, OurGateshead is a brilliant resource for finding things to do, volunteering opportunities and local support service – like us!
Short Breaks and Respite
The demands of a caring role can leave caregivers feeling exhausted and in need of a break. We believe that all caregivers deserve breaks from their caring role. The length of this break can vary for each person, it may be an few hours per week or 2 weeks for a holiday – we recharge and recover at our own rates.
CareFree Hotel Breaks
We are partnered with CareFree, a national charity providing short breaks in a variety of hotels across the UK. Caregivers who provide more than 30 hours of support per week can be referred by us to CareFree where they can pick a hotel break to take!
Learn more about accessing a CareFree Break.
Wellbeing Fund
We can offer caregivers accessing our support services the opportunity to improve their wellbeing using our Wellbeing Fund. This Fund allows caregivers to purchase something that will have a significant positive impact on their wellbeing – such as funds towards a spa day session, leisure centre membership or items to learn a new hobby.
Carers’ Emergency Support Service
If you were unexpectedly unable to care for your loved one, do you have a plan in place? Gateshead Council provide a free Carers’ Emergency Support to give you support and peace on mind if you were suddenly not able to be there for the person you care for.
Accessing other short break opportunities
Our team can also share relevant short breaks schemes that you may be eligible to get involved in. The information shared with you will be tailored to your situation and what opportunities are currently available.
Caregiver’s Rights
With around 12,000 people becoming caregivers for a loved one, lots of caregivers are unaware of their legal rights and what support they’re entitled to. There is even a Carers Rights Day, which aims to highlight the key role caregivers have and showcase what legal rights they have due to them being a caregiver.
By understanding and acting on your rights, you can find support in your GP Surgeries allowing you to access more appointment times and free flu jabs; and in the workplace, caregivers are entitled to Carer’s Leave to help with juggling a caring role and a job role.
Benefits and Finance Support
Get benefits advice and application support from our team!
We have a specialist caregiver benefits worker in our team who can offer advice and support in applying for the following benefits:
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
To access our support, please complete our online registration form and we will contact you as soon as we can. Please be sure to include any upcoming benefit form deadlines in the notes section.
Speak to our team at our caregiver benefits drop-in sessions
We’re in your local Family Hubs across Gateshead, giving caregivers the chance to pop in and get advice from our caregiver benefits worker!
Find out when our next drop-in session is coming to a Family Hub near you!
Online Benefits Calculator – by Carers Trust
Carers Trust have an online benefits calculator that can help you understand what you might be able to claim and how much money you could get. The calculator can be used by you and the person you care for as long as you are over 18 years old and are not a student.
Use the Carers Trust Benefits Calculator
Support in GP Surgeries and Hospitals
For most caregivers, doctor and hospital appointments are quite a regular occurrence due to the nature of their caring role. Local NHS Trusts recognise the vital role caregivers have in helping their patients throughout the entire appointment process.
Support for caregivers in local hospitals
As part of this recognition, caregivers are entitled to additional benefits when visiting local hospitals. Below is a list of hospitals who actively support caregivers;
- QE Hospital
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
- Freeman Hospital
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust Hospitals
Register as a caregiver with your GP
We recommend registering as a carer with your GP as they can provide you with really useful support, advice and information. In fact, all caregivers have a legal right to register as a caregiver with their GP. For example, you may be able to your flexible appointment times, possible home visits and flu vaccinations.
Education, Training and Employment
Every day 600 people quit their job to care for a loved one because the caring role becomes too demanding. We are here to offer support to caregivers to access education, training and employment opportunities. Our team of support workers can help you understand what opportunities are in your local area.