From our years of experience supporting carers we know that carers who care for someone long term (or care for someone with a mental health condition) may struggle considerably, and the stress of caring for someone else with complex health needs or a mental health condition can severely impact on your own health and well-being as a carer.
Brent Carers Centre supports the mental well-being of Carers in the following ways.
Carers Mental Health Service
Our Carers mental health service can help you with:
- confidential advice, information and support;
- support around care and emergency planning;
- access to respite breaks and other support services;
- advocate on your behalf; and so much more.
Please Contact Us for further information.
Carers Counselling Service
Counselling is a talking therapy that involves talking and listening, and working with a counsellor who is trained to support you in a safe setting so you can start to discuss those issues that are causing you concern. It can help you come to terms with your caring role, release painful feelings and see your options more clearly.
Counselling at the Centre is free and is provided by a team of volunteer counsellors. Carers are offered an initial meeting to find out more about the counselling we offer and how we can best meet their needs, before being assigned a counsellor.
If you are able to commit to attending 10 weekly sessions and would like to find out more about this service or make a referral please contact us on telephone number 020 3802 7070 or email counselling@brentcarerscentre.org.uk.
Care Support Fund to Help More Carers Attend our Trips
If you care for someone with a mental health condition and cannot attend a Brent Carers Centre trip without care support in place, then please let us know.
We have a small fund available to cover the cost of care support, so you can join us on our trips and have an enjoyable break with other carers. Limited funds are available and the offer is subject to availability. To find out more please Contact Us.
Reimbursement of Travel Costs
This fund includes carers who care for someone with a mental health condition. We know that carers who care for someone with a mental health condition may have a lot of medical appointments to attend with the person they care for, which can entail significant costs. This fund is designed to alleviate some of the high travel expenses incurred by carers.
To claim reimbursement of travel expenses you must:
- Be registered with Brent Carers’ Centre as a Carer of someone with a mental health condition, such as clinical depression, bi-polar, dementia, etc.
- Provide written proof on letter-headed for each of the medical appointments in respect of the person you care for
- Provide original receipts of travel expenses.
Travel expenses will be administered on a monthly basis.
Each carer can claim up to £20 per trip maximum and up to 12 trips per annum, subject to availability of funds. Payments will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
To claim reimbursement of travel expenses Contact Us and ask for a “Travel Expenses Claim Form“.
Carers Support Groups
Don’t forget our Carers Support Groups which can also offer a great deal of comfort, by talking with other carers who understand and sharing similar experiences.
For further information have a look at our Carers Support Groups and Activities page.
