Carers

Are you a carer?

You are a carer if you provide substantial and regular care for an adult or child who has a long term illness, disability, mental health problem or frailty due to age, and the care that you provide is unpaid.

Not all carers are adults

You are a young carer if you are a child or young person under the age of 18 carrying out significant caring tasks and assuming a level of responsibility for another person which would normally be undertaken by an adult .

Carers need support

There are many pleasures and rewards in being a carer, but also pressures and frustrations. Many carers give up work to become full time carers, often causing financial difficulties Carers may feel isolated, and undervalued. Some carers may find that juggling the demands of a full time job with being a carer creates great pressures and feelings of guilt.

Click here to download a copy of our service for carers leaflet.

What do carers tell us they want:

• Access to relevant information in a format that is user friendly.
• Financial support
• Regular/flexible short breaks

Some facts about carers:

• 6.8 million people (1:8 adults) in the UK are carers
• Over one million people care for more than one person
• Over 3 million people juggle paid employment with the demands of being a carer.
• 32% of carers spend more than 20 hours per week caring
• 65% of carers say that their own health has been severely affected by their caring responsibilities.
• 33% of carers say that they have not had a break from their caring responsibilities in the last two years.

Crossroads enables the carer to have a break whilst enabling the person with care needs to do something they value.

Whoever you care for, we can help. Not by taking over, or telling you what to do – because you are the expert, but by listening to you and getting to know you and the person for whom you care we can tailor a service that meets your needs.

What do carers say about Crossroads?

“I cannot speak highly enough of the caring attitude of the Carer Support Worker and indeed the whole Crossroads set up. We have built up a trusting relationship with the Carer Support Worker and value her visits. Thank you for your support”

“Without Crossroads I would not be able to go out shopping each week and leave my husband in safe hands. My Carer Support Workers have all been kind and helpful. Please keep on with your wonderful work; giving us the chance to lead a better life”.

We are delighted with the service provided by Crossroads. Our Carer Support Workers are brilliant and all the replacements for holiday cover were good. Thank you for being a lifeline for our family”

“Thank you for a very good service”