Caring for a family member, partner, friend or neighbour can bring love, purpose and connection, but it can also be demanding. You may help with appointments, medication, personal care, emotional support, finances, communication or day-to-day tasks. You do not need to manage it alone.
Caregivers Connected Gateshead – we’re here to help
Caregivers Connected Gateshead is a free, confidential service for unpaid adult carers, young adult carers, young carers and parent carers who support someone living in Gateshead. We can offer information and guidance, carer assessments, benefits advice, wellbeing support, groups, activities, training and help to plan for emergencies.
Caregivers Connected Gateshead
Phone: 0808 801 0350
Text or WhatsApp: 07740 410314
Email: info@caregiversconnectedgateshead.co.uk
Website: caregiversconnectedgateshead.co.uk
Conditions you may be caring around
Every caring situation is different. You may be supporting someone with:
- Dementia, memory loss or cognitive impairment
- Autism, ADHD or other neurodivergence
- A learning disability or physical disability
- Sensory loss, including sight or hearing loss
- Mental health difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis
- Cancer or life-limiting illness
- Stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or another neurological condition
- Heart, lung, kidney, autoimmune or other long-term health conditions
- Diabetes or epilepsy
- Drug or alcohol dependency
Your wellbeing matters too. Whatever the condition, Caregivers Connected Gateshead can help you find the right local and national support.
Local Support in Gateshead
Dementia and memory problems
Alzheimer’s Society – Dementia Support Gateshead offers personalised information, practical guidance and ongoing support for people with dementia, families and carers. Read more about Dementia Support Gateshead
Gateshead Health also provides specialist memory and dementia services, with support for patients and carers through referral routes. Find Gateshead Health’s specialist memory and dementia services.
Disabled children, young people and SEND
Gateshead Parent Carer Forum brings together parent carers of children and young people aged 0–25 with special educational needs and disabilities. It offers peer connection, information sessions, training and opportunities to influence local services. Visit Gateshead Parent Carer Forum.
Gateshead Health’s Learning Disability Team can help families and carers access reasonable adjustments and accessible information for hospital appointments and stays. Find information for parents and carers.
Disability, sensory loss and long-term health conditions
Sense Ability Matters (SAM) supports adults across Gateshead who have a sensory impairment, are disabled or live with a long-term health condition, helping people stay connected and independent. Visit Sense Ability Matters.
Cancer
The Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service at Gateshead Health supports people with cancer, as well as relatives, friends and carers. It provides information, emotional support and links to local services. Find the Macmillan service at Gateshead Health
Macmillan Cancer Support also provides national practical, financial and emotional support for carers. Find Macmillan’s information for carers.
FACT (Fighting All Cancers Together)
FACT is a Gateshead-based cancer support charity for anyone affected by cancer, including patients, family members, friends and unpaid carers. Its support centre in Wrekenton offers non-clinical help, information, social activities and wellbeing support. No referral is needed, and carers can access support in their own right.
Support can include confidential counselling, coffee mornings, support groups, activities and opportunities to meet others who understand the impact cancer can have on everyday life. FACT also supports children and families, people undergoing tests, and people affected by bereavement. Find more at FACT website.
Mental health
If someone is experiencing mental health challenges, carers can speak with the person’s GP or care team about support for families and carers. Gateshead’s Community Mental Health for Older People service includes carer support, and Gateshead Talking Therapies may help carers who need support with their own wellbeing. Find more at Gateshead’s Community Mental Health for Older People service website.
Urgent mental health support: In a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Find more mental health crisis information.
Drug and alcohol dependency
Gateshead Recovery Partnership provides confidential advice, treatment options and support for adults affected by drugs or alcohol in Gateshead. Find Gateshead Recovery Partnership
The regional SPOC service can signpost carers of someone using drugs or alcohol to specialist one-to-one support, groups and short-break opportunities. Find the regional SPOC service.
Support for you as a carer
You may be able to access a free carer’s assessment through Gateshead Adult Social Care. It looks at what could make your caring role more manageable, such as practical support, breaks, information or connections to local groups.
Request a carer’s assessment: 0191 433 7033
You can also register as a carer with your GP. This may help the practice understand your responsibilities and offer appropriate support. If the person you care for is in hospital, ask about a Carer’s Passport, which may provide flexible visiting and practical benefits. Find support for carers from Gateshead Health.