Lewisham carers

Supporting unpaid carers in Lewisham to improve their wellbeing and lead fulfilling lives

Are you a carer?

A carer is anyone who provides unpaid care for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, mental health problem or addiction, cannot cope without their support.

Many people do not think of themselves as carers and do not get the help and support they need. We understand that caring for someone can be a rewarding and selfless experience. It can also be overwhelming, stressful, exhausting and lonely.

Every experience is unique, and all carers deserve to be heard, valued and supported. The Maximising the Wellbeing of Unpaid Carers service in partnership with Lewisham Council aims to ensure you get the support you need, with information, advice and support through each stage of your caring journey. You’ll also have opportunities to join a range of activities to improve your wellbeing and connect with other carers in Lewisham. 

 

What support will I receive?

Our free services are designed to provide a full range of support for all eligible carers, whether you are a young person or an adult, in ways to suit you, whether that’s one-to-one, in a group, online or in person.

When you join the service, you will receive a welcome pack. This guide to local support was co-produced and developed by Lewisham Council and Lewisham unpaid carers.

We then send you newsletters and information about the range of regular activities, one-off events, training and groups that you can join. You can also pick up this information by popping into your local Carers Hub.

We will help you to improve your own health and wellbeing, balance your caring role with your own needs and aspirations, and care safely, confidently and effectively.  

Support includes:

---

Assessing your needs

when you join the service, we will contact you to arrange a carers conversation to understand your caring journey and build a personal support plan. We can help you prepare for a carers assessment with the Adult Social Care team or a Young Carers Assessment if you are under 18.

---

Information, advice and guidance

helping you to feel better equipped for all aspects of your caring role and understand your rights as a carer.

---

Emotional support

helping you to manage the stress, anxiety and pressures of being a carer, including access to free counselling, befriending and peer support groups.

---

Financial support and advice

providing support to apply for a range of benefits, such as Carers Allowance, Carer One-Off Payments and Young Carer grants, and help to access financial information and advice.

---

Exploring new opportunities

encouraging you to develop your interests, take up volunteering, training, education and employment, or participate in workshops and activities to develop new skills.

---

Contact with other agencies

helping you manage your connections with benefits, health, social care, council, education and employment organisations. 

---

Coping with emergencies

planning for sudden changes in your caring role, such as you having to go into hospital. The Lewisham Council Carer Card has a 24-hour response service number on it that you can call in an emergency.

---

Championing carers

raising awareness so that more people understand carers’ needs and challenges and can provide wider support.

---

Register adult carer Register young carer

Carers Hubs

Pop into your local Carers Hub for information, advice and guidance, support groups and social activities.

Please note: The Carers Hub at Glass Mill Leisure Centre closed on 18^th June as the venue prepares for refurbishment. 

---

New local community hubs are coming soon!

Lewisham Council, in partnership with Imago, is pleased to announce that new community hubs will soon be available across the borough.

While we make this transition, please continue to attend your usual peer support groups and drop-in sessions, where Carers Coordinators will be available to offer advice, information and support.

The new hub locations have been chosen in partnership with carers through a co-production process. By moving to neighbourhood-based venues, we will be able to provide support closer to where carers live, making it easier to access services, information and local connections.

---

New hub locations

No need to book – just come along.

• Ladywell Day Centre on Tuesdays  – Opening 23rd June
• St Luke's Church, Grove Park, BR1 on Wednesdays – Opening 1st July
• Sydenham Library Community Room on Tuesdays – Opening 23rd June
• Waldron Health Centre on Fridays – Open Now

---

Keeping you updated

We will continue to share regular updates as these changes are introduced and will provide further information about the new hubs soon. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition. We look forward to welcoming you to your new local hub and continuing to support you in your caring role.

You can also call us on 0300 373 5769 or email ucwellbeing@imago.community

---

Supporting adult carers 25+

---

Join workshops, events and classes

Take part in engaging sessions tailored to different interests and connect with other local carers. Join us every year to celebrate Carers Week and Carers Rights Day.

Activities calendar

---

Helping meet your individual needs

We can sit down with you on a one-to-one basis to help with carers assessments, benefit and grant applications, and accessing technologies and aids to make caring easier.

---

For young adult carers (18-25)

---

Planning for your future

We can support you to apply for jobs or college, make sure your CV is up to date, get advice from our business partners and find volunteering places to broaden your experience.

---

Building your social networks

Take a break from caring by joining one of our young adult carer groups and take part in our programme of activities and events.

---

For young carers (4-18)

---

Making sure your school knows about you

We work with you, your parents/carers and school staff so that everyone knows about your caring role and helps you achieve the best you can in your education.

---

You are not alone

Join activities to help you meet other young carers who know what it is like to be a carer, have a break from caring, and have fun!  

---

Stay up to date with the latest news and events in Lewisham

Read our newsletter

---

 

It was a lovely few hours spent enjoying life and not being a carer. Thank you for all your support this year, it has made a difference.

Sharon, Unpaid adult carer

Our funding partners and quality standards

 

The Maximising Wellbeing of Unpaid Carers service is commissioned by the London Borough of Lewisham.

We also hold the Advice Quality Standard, which provides carers with the assurance that the we have met certain criteria that demonstrate a commitment to quality.