A carer is someone who looks after a friend or relative who couldn’t manage at home without their help and is not paid for doing so.

A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. A carer may also be juggling paid work with their unpaid caring responsibilities at home.

Anyone can become a carer; carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age, including children.

There are around 13,000 carers in the borough of Kingston. Carers may not recognise themselves as carers and therefore not seek help and support.

The Royal Borough of Kingston provide a number of support services to local carers. For more information and advice about local resources and support for carers, visit the council website.

You may also like to seek advice and support from Kingston Carer’s Network, an independent voluntary sector charity based locally in Kingston. More information about them and their contact details can be found below.

You can also speak to one of the doctors here at the surgery and they can make a referral on your behalf to Kingston Carer’s Network.

Make good use of Kingston Carers’ Network (KCN)

If you, or people you know, are caring for someone in the borough, register with KCN who are the leading, local voluntary organisation providing:

• Information and advice
• One to one support
• Peer support groups
• Outings and activities
• Training
• Range of therapies and treatments
• Out of hours Legal advice
• Counselling
• And more!

To register or refer a carer, email admin@kingstoncarers.org.uk or ring them on 020 3031 2757. Visit www.kingstoncarers.org.uk for more information.

The Voice of Carers in Kingston

A forum for all family and friends caring for someone in the borough.

The forum aims to enable carers to have a stronger voice in shaping and developing local services and support for them and the people they care for. Anyone caring for a relative or friend in the borough is welcome to come along to find what other carers feel are the priorities and to have their say. We would ask that you tell carers about the forum and encourage them to join in and help shape change…

For details of the dates of the forum or to find out more contact the Director of Kingston Carer’s by email – director@kingstoncarers.org.uk.

Please visit the Carers section of the Wellbeing Centre for more resources for carers.