Help & Support for Carers
BBME Membership is open to you too. If you're a caregiver to a paying member with one of these conditions, your membership is FREE!
We call it a FREE +1 Membership.
Carers Need Care Too
An Informal Carer (known as such because it is not the profession for which you are employed) can be any age, can offer a little to a lot of support, and the support you offer can vary widely. But carers need, and deserve, support too.
Here we’re going to highlight some of the help & support services that we know are available for you.
All external links will open in a new browser window
Financial Support
There are a couple of benefits and grants designed to support people who care for those living with conditions and disability, which include:
-
Carer’s Allowance - extra money to help you look after someone with substantial caring needs.
-
Carer’s Credit - so there will not be any gaps in your National Insurance record if you have to take on caring responsibilities.
This government webpage provides information specifically on benefits available to people in the UK who are disabled or have a health condition, but also includes links to information on the above three benefits for Carers.
Benefits Calculators
The government backs a range of three independent benefits calculators to help you see, in advance, what benefits you may be eligible for.
Please see our Finances page in our Resources section for further information on financial support options, including grants, and how to apply or get help applying for things.
Support Services
The assessment exists to ensure you are acknowledged as a carer (which can stand you in good stead for other services in the future), as well as provide a gateway to services that will support you now and in the future, including respite where appropriate.
The team that completes the assessment and accompanying 12 page assessment document is dependent upon which borough you live in, and whether the person you care for does or does not already access council-funded care support services.
As an informal carer you are entitled to a Carer’s Assessment.
In Bury the assessment is completed by a member of the Adult Social Care Team.
Please see our Care & Support Services page in our Resources section for their contact information.
If you are the carer of a child with one of these disabling conditions, besides look at our Children & Young People section, Bury Council also has a page listing details of a range of support services for both the child or young person, and the parent carer.
If the person you care for is not already in receipt of a care support package via the council, then your assessment will be completed by the Early Intervention Team. You can find their contact information on our Care & Support Services
If the person you care for is already in receipt of a care support package via the council, then your assessment will be completed by Social Services. In this instance, you will need to contact the District Team to which the person you care for is assigned. The team to which they are assigned will be listed towards the front of the Care Plan they should have received from Social Care Services following their Needs Assessment.
North District
General Enquiries: 01204 337240
Duty: 01204 331149
AdultsNorthDistrict@bolton.gov.uk
West District
General Enquiries: 01204 337680
Duty: 01204 333410
AdultsWestDistrict@bolton.gov.uk
South District
General Enquiries: 01204 337717
Duty: 01204 338863
AdultsSouthDistrict@bolton.gov.uk
Support & Information Services
Bolton Carers Support
A registered charity for adults who have caring responsibilities and who live in Bolton or who care for someone who lives in Bolton.
01204 363 056
Website
Bolton Council - Carer Benefits and Legal Services
Jubilee Centre
Darley Street
Halliwell
Bolton
Greater Manchester
BL1 3DX
01204 337970
adaat@bolton.gov.uk
NHS webpage
This NHS webpage has lots of information about how they can support you, plus link to other organisations that can help, support, and be there for you too.
Bury Council Young Carer’s Group
Bury Young Carers supports children and young people between 7 and 18 years old who provide care to another family member who live or attend school in the borough of Bury
Support Groups
Turn2Us is a national charity offering information and practical help to people facing financial insecurity.
As a carer, you have the right to have your own needs assessed by your local council.
This could be as part of the assessment of the person you are caring for, or in your own right.
This page of their website also list many resources, including information, Support Groups and Services for people who have become Carers.
Education & Support For Those Who Care
As an established but growing support group, we would really love to develop an information pack with input from our members to better support caregivers. We would really like to hear suggestions of information and services you would like us to include in the caregiver pack too.
If you have suggestions for what should be included in this pack, please email us via our Contact Us page with Caregiver pack suggestions in the Subject line
Membership is only £10 per year
BBME Membership is open to people who support and care for those with ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, or Long-COVID
Membership is also free to one caregiver from your support network.
