We want The Big Bridge to be a vibrant, community resource so please fill in the e-form if you have any ideas to share by clicking on the above comments box. This is your website too!
Local support for carers
Support for you
Without emotional and practical support, caring for someone with a learning disability can lead to many difficulties. But it can be hard to ask for help. Some people find they need more support as they get older; others find that an unexpected change in circumstances – such as redundancy – means they need help. Finding someone who shares your concerns or outlook can be a great advantage, and offering mutual support can be rewarding, too. In the Brighton & Hove area, there are several places to go for help and support:
The Carers Centre Brighton & Hove
The Carers Centre provides emotional support, information and guidance to carers in the city. They also provide a series of factsheets to help you as a carer.
The Centre also organises coffee mornings, groups and activities to help carers meet people in similar situations, share experiences and to give them regular breaks from caring.
For more information please ring The Carers Centre on (01273) 234045 or visit their website: www.thecarerscentre.org.
An events calendar can be found on The Carers Centre website: www.thecarerscentre.org/adult-carers/whats-on-calendar
Learning Disability Carers Listening Lunch
Every other month carers of people with a learning disability have the opportunity to meet others, talk about things which are concerning them and have the change to input their views to the Learning Disability Partnership Board. There is of course also a delicious free lunch!
Feel free to join us at the Friends Meeting House on Ship Street from 11am until 1.30pm. For more information and to register your attendance please contact Nick Fry, Engagement Officer at The Carers Centre on 01273 746222.
Access Point
Run by the council, Access Point is an award-winning service which offers advice, help and information for people who require social care, and can also advise parents and carers. The team is based at the council offices in Bartholomew Square. When you phone up, you can talk to an experienced member of staff, who’ll be able to suggest services or next steps, including carers’ assessments. The phone number is 01273 295 555.
Amaze gives information, advice and support to parents of children with special needs and disabilities in Brighton and Hove. They have a regular helpline and offer practical support with education issues, claims for disability living allowance and the transition to adult services. Amaze also run regular courses and workshops and manage the Compass database and leisure card, which gives disabled children discounts at leisure outlets in and around Brighton.
Amaze produces a range of publications for parents of children with special needs including a regular newsletter, two handbooks and fact sheets with specific advice on subjects like choosing a school, getting a break and handling tricky meetings. You can download these factsheets and read much more at their website www.amazebrighton.org.uk.
Amaze helpline (01273 772289) open:
Monday to Thursday: 9.30am to 12 midday
Thursday Evening: 6pm to 8pm
Cool2Care
Cool2Care provides help to families who are looking after disabled children and young people. The main objective of Cool2Care is to recruit, train and place skilled care workers and personal assistants within a family to help look after a disabled child. We will listen and assess the family and child's requirements at the intitial stages and then working with the family and the local authority, where possible, we will help to relieve some of the stress and anxiety recruiting a care-worker can normally bring. Our on-going support to the family and care-worker alike throughout the placement has proved invaluable in making this service a success.
Our service is compatiable with Direct Payments and we can help families recruit a care-worker even when funding is provided by the local authority. Through our association with the Independent Living Association we can offer help with CRB checks, employment law and payroll enquiries.
Contact Name: Jacqui Parfitt, Family Liaison Manager
EMail: jacqui.parfitt@cool2care.net
Telephone: 07872 502751
Website: www.cool2care.co.uk and www.westsussex.gov.uk
National support for carers | Working and caring | Money matters