Help available for carers
Medway Council and NHS Kent and Medway recognise the essential contribution that carers make. We support Medway carers of all ages, to continue to carry out this valuable role and support your health and wellbeing.
Carers First has been funded to:
- provide advice, information and guidance in your caring role
- support you in accessing carers respite or support payments that can help you in a crisis, for those eligible
- develop contingency and emergency planning
- provide access to immediate practical or financial support
- offer signposting for a Statutory Carers Assessment.
To find out more, you can:
- visit the Carers First website
- call 0330 303 155
- email hello@carersfirst.org.uk.
Have your say
Have your say about our carers campaign, or about our carer support in Medway.
If you would like to tell us your views, complete our online survey.
Tell us your story
In Medway, we value our carers reasons for caring and would like to hear your story. You can tell us your story to
Help for carers
There are several different forms of help available to those who care for a loved one.
Caring for someone can be rewarding but can also be a challenging and stressful time for the carer and there is help available if you need it.
Find out about:
If you live in Kent, visit Kent's support for carers page.
Financial help and support
Council Tax discounts and exemptions
You may be eligible for a Council Tax discount or exemption if you or someone you live with is a carer, a care worker, has dementia or is disabled.
Council Tax Reduction
The level of discount is based on the income of the household. However, carers allowance and disability benefits are not counted as income within the scheme.
The maximum discount Medway Council offers is 65% of the Council Tax for working age households and 100% for pensioners.
More about Council Tax Reduction scheme.
Financial help for carers
The Department for Work and Pensions offers a range of benefits to support carers.
More information on financial help for carers on GOV.UK.
General household support
The Household Support Fund provides support to vulnerable Medway households. Funded by the UK government, the scheme is for those most in need of support to help with significantly rising living costs.
The fund can be used for:
- food and home essentials
- energy
- water
- essentials linked to energy and water
- housing costs in exceptional circumstances.
It cannot be used for mortgages.
More about the Household Support Fund.
MoneyHelper
MoneyHelper joins up money and pensions guidance to make it quicker and easier to find the right help.
MoneyHelper brings together the support and services of 3 government-backed financial guidance providers:
- the Money Advice Service
- the Pensions Advisory Service
- Pension Wise.
Support services available to carers.
General advice and information
Qwell
Qwell offer free mental health support for all adults in Medway. We have partnered with Qwell so that all adults in Medway can find support wherever they are, whenever they need it.
Qwell has no waiting lists and you can join online communities with other people. They also offer professional counselling and self help resources.
There is a live chat available with a mental health professional:
- 12pm to 10pm on weekdays
- 6pm to 10pm on weekends.
You can also message the team at any time, and they will respond as soon as they can.
More about Qwell and how to sign up.
Carers Emergency Card
The Carers Emergency Card gives immediate access to pre-arranged planned care. This gives carers confidence that the person would be looked after if they were taken ill or involved in an accident.
The scheme provides carers with a key fob and a card the size of a credit card to keep with them. It will make people aware they're a carer in case of accident or sudden illness. The carers can write the number of the person to be contacted in an emergency on the card or key fob. If the nominated person is not contactable the number of Medway Adult Social Care is on the card or fob.
The card or fob will provide carers and the cared for person peace of mind. It will enable the nominated person or Medway Adult Social Care to put in place the contingency plan for the cared person.
Apply for a Medway Carers Emergency Card.
Imago
Imago delivers a wide range of projects across Kent and Medway, offering support for young and adult carers.
Age UK Kent Rivers
Age UK Kent Rivers provides a carers relief service. It's a flexible service based on the carer's and client's requirements supporting older people at home or within the community.
Medway Voluntary Action (MVA)
Established in 1989 and now embedded within Medway's communities for over 30 years, the MVA has a strong history of supporting and representing voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Medway.
Find information on free support for local charities and community groups on the MVA website.
Dementia Cafés
Dementia Cafés offers refreshments and snacks in a friendly environment. Activities include quizzes, bingo and games.
The cafes offers support from health and social care professionals, including signposting from available literature and from other carers.
Citizens Advice Medway
Citizens Advice Medway is a registered charity that offers free, independent, confidential, and impartial advice 24/7 for whatever you’re struggling to handle. This could be housing, welfare benefits, employment, debt, family law, or something else.
Visit the Citizens Advice Medway website.
Medway Better Together consortium
The Better Together consortium is a collaboration that provides advice, guidance and support to Medway carers, residents and voluntary sector organisations.
Your local GP
All local doctors surgeries have a link worker to direct patients and Dementia co-ordinators.
Find out more on the Kent and Medway NHS website.
Caring for someone with substance addiction and misuse
Forward Trust offers family support where they promote their online chat support via Reach Out.
For local drop in support and advice, you can:
- email: Medway@forwardtrust.org.uk or theforwardtrust.medway@nhs.net
- phone: 0300 123 1560 (Monday 9:30am to 8pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30am to 5pm, Thursday 9:30am to 8pm, Friday 9:30am to 5pm)
- in-person: drop by the main Hub and have a chat: 4 Kingsley House, 37-39 Balmoral Road, Gillingham.