If you look after a family member or friend who could not manage without your support, help and advice is available. You do not have to do it alone.
Caring for someone can be one of the most rewarding things you do — but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. The organisations below offer free support, information and practical help for unpaid carers in and around Kingston.
Please let us know if you are a carer so we can add this to your records and ensure you receive appropriate support, including an annual health check. See our Are You a Carer? page for more information.
Local and national carer support
Kingston Carers Network
The main local organisation supporting unpaid carers of all ages in Kingston. They offer one-to-one support, carer assessments, emergency planning, groups and activities, training and a range of other services — all free to carers living in or caring for someone in the Royal Borough of Kingston.
Tel: 020 3031 2757
Web:
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
Carers UK
The national charity for carers. Carers UK provides expert advice, information and support — covering benefits and finances, legal rights, work and caring, and health and wellbeing. Their helpline and online forum connect carers across the country.
Helpline: 0808 808 7777
(Mon–Fri 9am–6pm)
Web: www.carersuk.org
Kingston Borough Council — Carer Support
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames provides information on local carer support, carer assessments and council services available to carers and the people they care for.
Employers for Carers
If you are juggling caring responsibilities with work, Employers for Carers provides guidance for both carers and employers on flexible working, your legal rights, and how to have conversations with your employer about your caring role.
NHS — Support for Carers
The NHS provides guidance on carer assessments, your rights as a carer, and how to access support for both yourself and the person you care for.